accolade
AK-uh-laydnounMeaning an award, honor or expression of praise
Memory hook ac-COL-ade: COL = NECK, a medal. The judge hangs a gold medal around Dev’s neck for his science project. Col means neck, and an accolade is an honor like that.
The firefighter received the town’s highest accolade for bravery.
In context Winning the science fair was nice, but the accolade Maya treasured most was a handwritten note from the judge calling her experiment the cleverest she had ever seen.
Similar award, honor, distinction
Opposite criticism, censure
From French accolade, “an embrace around the neck,” once part of the ceremony of making a knight.