1
2
as in commendation
a formal recognition of an achievement or praiseworthy deed a police officer who has received several citations for his work with troubled youths in the city

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in quotation
a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example in your paper be sure to include citations to back up any points you make about the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun citation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of citation are encomium, eulogy, panegyric, and tribute. While all these words mean "a formal expression of praise," citation applies to the formal praise of a person offered in a military dispatch or in awarding an honorary degree.

earned a citation for bravery

When can encomium be used instead of citation?

The words encomium and citation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, encomium implies enthusiasm and warmth in praising a person or a thing.

received encomiums from literary critics

When might eulogy be a better fit than citation?

The meanings of eulogy and citation largely overlap; however, eulogy applies to a prepared speech or writing extolling the virtues and services of a person.

delivered the eulogy at the funeral service

When could panegyric be used to replace citation?

In some situations, the words panegyric and citation are roughly equivalent. However, panegyric suggests an elaborate often poetic compliment.

her lyrical memoir was a panegyric to her mentor

When is tribute a more appropriate choice than citation?

While the synonyms tribute and citation are close in meaning, tribute implies deeply felt praise conveyed either through words or through a significant act.

the concert was a musical tribute to the early jazz masters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of citation Door alarms sounded in both cases but employees did not inspect them, according to civil penalty citations filed against the facilities by the health facilities division of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing. Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2025 In February 2024, Bokhari and six other council members voted to re-criminalize multiple city ordinances, giving police the authority to issue criminal citations for offenses like public masturbation and possession of open containers, the Observer reported. Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2025 In all of 2024, though, police issued just one citation for underage drinking at the venue, out of 168 issued last year citywide, according to public records. Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2025 The services offered at the facility include informal hearings for drivers whose privileges have been suspended or revoked for a single DUI citation, which doesn’t involve a death, and other moving violations. Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for citation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for citation
Noun
  • After Trachtenberg's death, many of her former costars paid tribute to her career in Hollywood, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, who starred with her on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the early 2000s.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Coogler and his co-screenwriter Joe Robert Cole opted not to recast Boseman's role as Wakanda's King T'Challa, and instead reworked the script to address his death and pay tribute to the performer.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • On October 21, Gov. Hobbs held a formal commendation ceremony to recognize the bravery and quick action of those who were vital to the evacuation efforts.
    Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 22 Oct. 2024
  • Former San Jose Public Art Director Barbara Goldstein appeared before the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors this month to accept a commendation for Womanhood.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Editor’s note: This story was updated soon after publication with an additional quotation about rules of engagement.
    Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Addressed to Dunne, the entries are full of direct quotations and written with the immediacy of fresh recollection.
    Joan Didion, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • His work has received dozens of national and regional awards.
    Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The festival reached a settlement with 277 ticket holders in 2021, when it was ordered to pay each recipient an award of $7,220.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Pally was courtside for the game and subsequent medal ceremony when cameras caught Curry tossing up a Mr. Throwback reference — chubby cheeks — from the podium.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Nobody will be giving out any medals when Blue Origin’s eleventh crewed space flight leaves the ground.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Next to it was a quote from Tubman about her experience coordinating the clandestine network for slaves seeking freedom.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025
  • After recording and transcribing these conversations, funds can quickly extract key quotes, identify patterns across multiple references by aggregating transcripts and including them in a single chat prompt, and flag potential concerns about leadership or execution capabilities.
    Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The honor adds to a long list of accolades in her extraordinary career.
    Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • But the gritty crime drama is more than deserving of its accolades, and Goggins, as Detective Shane Vendrell, is a major reason for its success.
    Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The normalization of hearing protection represents a maturation of festival culture—an acknowledgment that the best experiences are those that can be repeated sustainably throughout a lifetime.
    Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Read: The biggest disruption in the history of American education Without sufficient acknowledgment of the harms of school closures, or adequate planning for unwinding this intervention, officials showed that their decisions to close were simply reactive rather than carefully considered.
    David Zweig, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Citation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/citation. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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