When working through a crossword puzzle, coming across clues like ‘Deserving respect and approval’ can be both exciting and frustrating. This type of clue typically tests your understanding of synonyms and nuanced language. Whether you’re solving a classic newspaper puzzle or an online daily challenge, recognizing what kind of word the clue is aiming for can make all the difference. A clue like this often leads to words that suggest admiration, integrity, or moral value concepts that can be broad yet point to very specific terms in the puzzle world.
Understanding the Clue
The phrase deserving respect and approval is generally hinting at a positive quality or moral standing. Crossword puzzle solvers should first break down the clue into manageable parts: deserving implies something earned or merited, while respect and approval point toward social or moral validation. Combined, these ideas hint at words associated with virtue, honor, or high standards of behavior.
Common Solutions and Synonyms
There are several common answers that fit this clue depending on the number of letters required. Some typical answers include:
- Admirable Often used in longer puzzles; it means worthy of admiration or approval.
- Honorable Suggests someone who acts according to moral and ethical standards.
- Esteemed Refers to being held in high regard or respected.
- Credible While often associated with believability, it can also mean deserving trust or confidence.
- Venerable Typically used to describe someone with age or wisdom deserving of respect.
Matching the number of letters in the puzzle to these options helps narrow down the possibilities. Some variations may include words like reputable, worthy, or laudable, depending on the context of the crossword theme.
Tips for Solving This Type of Clue
Crossword clues like ‘deserving respect and approval’ often rely on a solver’s vocabulary and understanding of subtle word meanings. Here are some helpful strategies:
Check the Letter Count
Always consider how many letters the answer should contain. If it’s an 8-letter word, admirable or honorable might fit. If it’s 7 letters, esteemed could be the correct answer. Knowing this helps eliminate unlikely options quickly.
Use Crossword Patterns
As you begin to fill out intersecting words, the pattern of letters will start to emerge. For example, if the third letter is M and the sixth is B, you may be leaning toward admirable. Letter positioning is often the biggest clue to confirming your guesses.
Consider Context Clues
Sometimes, crossword puzzles are built around a theme like virtues, leadership, or social roles. If other clues relate to morality or leadership, deserving respect and approval is likely to be in the same category. This thematic context can steer you toward the right word group.
Rephrase the Clue in Your Own Words
Try rewording the clue to see what synonyms come to mind. For example, someone who should be looked up to or someone society honors. This exercise can help jog your memory and bring possible answers to the surface.
Examples in Puzzles
The clue ‘deserving respect and approval’ has appeared in various forms in many popular crossword publications. Here are a few real or similar examples and how they were interpreted:
- New York Times Crossword: Clue: Worthy of praise Answer: Laudable
- LA Times Crossword: Clue: Held in high regard Answer: Esteemed
- USA Today Crossword: Clue: Respectable or admirable Answer: Honorable
Each of these clues carries the same essence as deserving respect and approval, and the answers fit within a similar group of positive adjectives describing character or status.
Expanding Your Vocabulary
If you frequently solve crosswords, boosting your vocabulary is one of the best ways to handle clues like this. Many such clues rely on classic adjectives or slightly old-fashioned words that still hold significant meaning. Here are some words that may appear in similar contexts:
- Distinguished
- Exemplary
- Upright
- Revered
- Noteworthy
These words are not only great for solving puzzles, but also for improving general language use. Crossword clues often serve as vocabulary boosters in disguise.
Common Pitfalls
It’s easy to misread a clue like deserving respect and approval as something related to popularity or fame, but that would lead you down the wrong path. Words like famous or notable may seem to fit but don’t always carry the same moral or virtuous undertone.
Another common mistake is to assume the clue is pointing toward a noun when it is actually calling for an adjective. Always consider the clue’s tone and phrasing. If it describes a quality or trait, it’s likely an adjective is the correct form.
Why This Clue Appears Often
Clues like deserving respect and approval appear frequently because they are versatile, suitable for all types of crossword difficulties, and tie into universal themes like morality, success, and social standing. These clues also work well in themed crosswords that revolve around character traits or professional honor.
Puzzle creators enjoy including this type of clue because it allows a balance between accessibility and challenge. It’s not obscure, yet it requires thought. It encourages solvers to dig into their word knowledge without being overly technical.
Deserving respect and approval is a clue that tests your understanding of positive character descriptions. Whether the answer is admirable, honorable, or esteemed, solving this clue offers the satisfaction of connecting meaning with vocabulary in a thoughtful way. For crossword enthusiasts, mastering these clues builds not just puzzle-solving skills but also a broader, richer understanding of the English language.
So the next time you see this clue in a crossword puzzle, take a moment to consider not just the answer, but what it represents a recognition of qualities that society values: respect, approval, and honor. That’s what makes solving it all the more rewarding.