Which word describes the quality of being worthy of praise?

• A. equivocate
• B. estimable
• C. exonerate
• D. esoteric

Answer: (B)

The concept here is choosing a word that conveys being worthy of praise. The best fit is a term that directly means deserving of esteem or admiration. Estimable captures that sense precisely: it describes something or someone worthy of praise or high regard. You’ll often see it used to praise a person's admirable qualities or achievements, as in “an estimable contribution” or “an estimable leader.”

Other words miss the idea in different ways. Equivocate means to speak ambiguously or to avoid committing to a clear position, which has nothing to do with praise. Exonerate means to clear someone of blame, focusing on guilt or innocence rather than worthiness of praise. Esoteric describes knowledge that is understood by only a small, specialized audience, which is about accessibility of understanding, not about praiseworthiness.

So, the term that best conveys the quality of being worthy of praise is estimable.