applaud

verb

ə-ˈplȯd How to pronounce applaud (audio)
Definition of applaudnext
as in to praise
to declare enthusiastic approval of I applaud your decision to take that advanced course

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 applaud The Nationals Park crowd then applauded Cavalli, who was trying to throw Washington's first no-hitter since Max Scherzer did it twice in 2015. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Andrew Rigie, executive director of NYC Hospitality Alliance and Counsel Robert Bookman applauded the new program in a joint statement. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 Leaders of several similar operations including Masonicare in Wallingford, Duncaster in Bloomfield and Elim Park in Hamden joined Fairview officials in applauding its growth. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026 Commencement speakers are getting booed offstage for mentioning it, even as breakthroughs in medicine and service delivery are applauded elsewhere. — Brett White, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for applaud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for applaud
  1. praise
  2. hail
  3. commend
  4. salute
Verb
  • Guest judge Willy Chavarria praises how Jeffrey’s outfit moved (my favorite thing about it), but the strength of Naheim’s tromp l’oeil effect snags him the win, immunity for the next challenge, and $20,000 from Viva.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The play of both lines was pleasing to Harbaugh, who praised the performances of young defensive linemen TeRah Edwards and Jacobian Guillory.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of praise
Verb
  • Montana sinks a strikingly successful health plan One modern solution that has been hailed as a model for all employers came out of Montana.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
  • California was once hailed as a model for curbing the power of special interests and electing moderates.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hail
Verb
  • Maynard also commends the company for its presentation of the result, in light of AI’s tendency to copy humans’ mathematical results and present them as its own ideas.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director Jonathan Whitham commended Northwest Indiana’s communities for their response to Tuesday’s storms.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of commend
Verb
  • The man turned his gaze northeast, saluted Maceta, and disappeared, running and glimmering, into the blue of the mist.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Before saluting the judges, Rivera embraced her coach Anna Liukin for a long-winded hug.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of salute

Browse Nearby Words

appetizingly
applaud
applaudable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Applaud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/applaud. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on applaud

Nglish: Translation of applaud for Spanish Speakers

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