Definition of congratulatenext
as in to commend
to express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune let me be the first to congratulate you on winning the award

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 congratulate Glashow passed the mic to Rosenthal, who began by congratulating director Quinn Whitney Wilson for the Netflix acquisition of the Tribeca Festival world premiere and her directorial doc debut, Jean-Michel Basquiat. Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2026 This logic would not have barred any of the Jim Crow voting devices that the Roberts Court frequently congratulates itself and the nation for overcoming. Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026 Graduation photos, then bullets The shots rang out as photos were being taken in the school parking lot where students had gathered to congratulate one another and meet up with their families, one witness told CNN. Holly Yan, CNN Money, 4 June 2026 While many congratulated the ACM Entertainer of the Year winner, others criticized the hunt and questioned the ethics of killing a grizzly bear. Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for congratulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congratulate
Verb
  • The mayor and commissioner said police will be out in full force for the parade, as both commended NYPD officers for their work Saturday night when 63 people were arrested.
    Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 15 June 2026
  • Macron commended Trump for the announcement of the memorandum of understanding with Iran and for attending the G7 summit, which France is hosting, during his opening remarks.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Early yesterday, as Argentina sealed a 3-0 victory over Algeria, hundreds of fans gathered on the courtyard lawn of Beijing’s Argentine Embassy to cheer the team on.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
  • As World Cup soccer fans cheer for their teams in Los Angeles and stadiums across the nation, FBI agents are working in command centers, watching out for unauthorized flying objects.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Cars honked their horns and cyclists pulled over to tune in as flags fluttered in the wind, fans clambered to see the screen, and people hugged and shouted.
    Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 17 June 2026
  • The two young white women with long, straight hair hugged me and cooed and wiped my eyes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Maybe someone is complimenting (or flirting with you) publicly, but controlling you behind the scenes.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
  • Comer posted photos from the event on her Instagram, with fans complimenting her in the comments section.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Domingo praises Spielberg as a collaborator.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 13 June 2026
  • Tend details gently, and praise small consistent gains.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Congratulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congratulate. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on congratulate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster