as in commends
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 congratulates
On the communication system that reaches everyone, Krispel congratulates cast and crew on a good show, reminds them that curtain is at 7 tomorrow, asks them to drive safely.
—
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
At the tip meeting, Sandy congratulates the interior team and, in so many gentle words, tells the deck team to do better.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes congratulates players after a first half scoring drive against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Folsom Field on September 6, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025
At the tip meeting, Sandy congratulates the interior team and, in so many gentle words, tells the deck team to do better.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes congratulates players after a first half scoring drive against the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens at Folsom Field on September 6, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congratulates
Verb
-
Rider commends his acting teacher, Tony Greco, and his coach, Latarsha Rose, for the character work.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Praise, too In his report, Barofsky also commends the union for making some strides in compliance and reform during his monitorship.—
Liam Rappleye,
Freep.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This is one of the worst of them, with Alec Baldwin bravely fighting to bring Medgar Evers’s assassin to justice while Whoopi Goldberg cheers him on and cries.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Nothing good will ever happen to the Maple Leafs, or anyone who cheers for them.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The long-vacant office tower that hugs the highway is a familiar sight for the steady stream of vehicles traveling daily on the Interstate 84 viaduct, having gained notoriety two years ago after being painted with graffiti and tagged.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The green zone is a band of territory that hugs much of Gaza’s eastern perimeter and includes other areas seized through months of Israeli ground operations.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Sarah Jessica Parker praises 'inspiration' Carol Burnett Legendary comedienne Burnett was in the audience, and Parker, 60, thanked her for both her artistic contributions as well as her life-changing impact on the star's family.—
Ema Sasic,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The party, organized by the US-Ireland Alliance, praises folks from Ireland — and some who are not — who contribute to film, television and music.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The town applauds their arrival every April with the Migratory Bird Celebration, three days of bird banding, tours, and lectures.—
Kristy Christiansen,
Southern Living,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Hilliker shouts as her family applauds them.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
New to Xcel is Celebrity’s first-ever Hydra Room, a warm, bubbling pool with massaging jets and heated lounge chairs, that compliments the Thermal Suite’s other therapeutic experiences, including steam and an ocean view sauna.—
Susan Barnes,
Southern Living,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Tina sings lines about Cécred's Restoring Hair & Edge Drops and Nourishing Hair Oil, before hairstylist David Lopez compliments her vocals.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Congratulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congratulates. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
