Admire vs. Adore — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Admire is to regard with respect or approval for qualities or achievements. Adore is to regard with deep, often rapturous love or devotion.
Difference Between Admire and Adore
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Key Differences
Admire and Adore are both verbs that express positive feelings towards someone or something, but they differ in intensity and nature. When one admires someone, they recognize and respect that person's qualities, talents, or achievements. This recognition can be based on skills, character, or other attributes that stand out. On the other hand, to adore someone indicates a deeper emotional connection, often involving love, devotion, or profound affection.
Admiration can be more objective and distant; one can admire a person's work without knowing them personally. Adoration, meanwhile, is more personal and intimate, suggesting a close bond or deep reverence.
In summary, while Admire primarily pertains to respect and recognition, Adore delves into deeper emotional territories, encompassing love and intense affection.
Comparison Chart
Definition
To regard with approval or respect
To regard with deep love or devotion
Intensity
Respectful regard, can be distant
Deep, personal, often rapturous affection
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Common Usage
Appreciation for skills, achievements
Deep love, worship, profound affection
Nuance
Can be objective
Implies emotional connection or reverence
Related Emotions
Respect, appreciation
Love, worship, devotion
Compare with Definitions
Admire
To regard with approval.
I admire your dedication to the project.
Adore
To worship or venerate.
Many adore their deity with deep reverence.
Admire
To recognize and value.
I admire the way he handles challenges.
Adore
To regard with deep love and affection.
She adores her children unconditionally.
Admire
To have a high opinion of.
She admires her mentor greatly.
Adore
To like or desire enthusiastically.
I absolutely adore chocolate chip cookies!
Admire
To look at with pleasure.
He stopped to admire the painting.
Adore
Love and respect (someone) deeply
He adored his mother
Admire
To regard with pleasure, wonder, and approval
Admired the sculptures at the art museum.
Adore
Worship; venerate
He adored the Sacred Host
Admire
To have a high opinion of; esteem or respect
I admired her ability as a violinist.
Adore
To worship as God or a god.
Admire
Chiefly New England & Upper Southern US To enjoy (something)
"I just admire to get letters, but I don't admire to answer them" (Dialect Notes).
Adore
To love (someone) deeply and devotedly.
Admire
(Archaic) To marvel or wonder at.
Adore
To worship.
Admire
To marvel at something. Often used with at.
Adore
To love with one's entire heart and soul; regard with deep respect and affection.
It is obvious to everyone that Gerry adores Heather.
Admire
To be amazed at; to view with surprise; to marvel at.
Adore
To be very fond of.
Admire
(transitive) To regard with wonder and delight.
Adore
(obsolete) To adorn.
Admire
(transitive) To look upon with an elevated feeling of pleasure, as something which calls out approbation, esteem, love or reverence.
Adore
To worship with profound reverence; to pay divine honors to; to honor as a deity or as divine.
Bishops and priests, . . . bearing the host, which he [James II.] publicly adored.
Admire
(transitive) To estimate or value highly; to hold in high esteem.
To admire a person of high moral worth
He had always admired the work ethos and family values of his friend.
To admire a landscape
Adore
To love in the highest degree; to regard with the utmost esteem and affection; to idolize.
The great mass of the population abhorred Popery and adored Monmouth.
Admire
To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to marvel at.
Examples rather to be admired than imitated.
Adore
To adorn.
Congealed little drops which do the morn adore.
Admire
To regard with wonder and delight; to look upon with an elevated feeling of pleasure, as something which calls out approbation, esteem, love, or reverence; to estimate or prize highly; as, to admire a person of high moral worth, to admire a landscape.
Admired as heroes and as gods obeyed.
Adore
Love intensely;
He just adored his wife
Admire
To wonder; to marvel; to be affected with surprise; - sometimes with at.
To wonder at Pharaoh, and even admire at myself.
Adore
To find delightful or charming.
She adores the quaintness of the old town.
Admire
Feel admiration for
Admire
Look at with admiration
Admire
To find pleasing or attractive.
Many admire the beauty of the mountains.
Common Curiosities
Is Adore stronger than Admire in terms of emotion?
Yes, adore typically indicates deeper love or devotion compared to the respectful regard of admire.
Is it common to use Adore in religious contexts?
Yes, it's common to use "adore" in the context of worship or deep reverence for a deity.
Is Admire always about positive feelings?
Yes, to admire someone or something means to regard them with approval or respect.
Does adoring always imply a close personal relationship?
Not always, one can adore something non-living or distant, but it often suggests a deep emotional connection.
Can one admire someone they don't know personally?
Yes, admiration can be based on someone's work, skills, or achievements without personal acquaintance.
Is Adore synonymous with worship?
While both can indicate deep reverence, adore can be used in non-religious contexts too, while worship is more religiously inclined.
Can the words Admire and Adore be used interchangeably?
Not always. While both are positive, they have different nuances and intensities of emotion.
Do both words have similar origins?
Both come from Latin: "Admire" from "admirari" meaning "to wonder at," and "Adore" from "adorare" meaning "to worship."
Can one admire a trait but not adore the person exhibiting it?
Absolutely, one can admire specific qualities or skills without necessarily adoring the individual as a whole.
Is it accurate to say you "admire" your favorite food?
It's more common to say you "adore" or "love" a favorite food, but context can allow for varied expressions.
Can you "adore" a moment or experience?
Yes, for instance, one might say they "adored" a particular vacation or moment in time.
Can you admire an artwork?
Yes, you can admire an artwork by recognizing its beauty or craftsmanship.
In what situations is Admire most commonly used?
Admire is often used when appreciating someone's skills, achievements, or qualities.
When would one use Adore over Admire?
Adore is used to express deep love, fondness, or enthusiastic liking, often more personal than admire.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
