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
Trump congratulates the Swanson family.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 2026
Don congratulates the rest of the team and continues to work, while Kate, Bailey and Erin celebrate with drinks together.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Occasionally, bottles of water and loaves of bread are distributed, and Lydia congratulates herself for having the discipline to make her slice last.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Tiafoe has been one of Baptiste’s biggest fans and congratulates her often on social media.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
But then the public address announcer congratulates Charlisse Leger-Walker for her four All-Pac-12 honors and her conference title with Washington State (which came at UCLA’s expense), and the whole ceremony starts to make less sense.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
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
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
In a TikTok video posted by the Chiefs Thursday night, Kelce congratulates Wagner backstage.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 2026
Don congratulates the rest of the team and continues to work, while Kate, Bailey and Erin celebrate with drinks together.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
Occasionally, bottles of water and loaves of bread are distributed, and Lydia congratulates herself for having the discipline to make her slice last.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
Tiafoe has been one of Baptiste’s biggest fans and congratulates her often on social media.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
But then the public address announcer congratulates Charlisse Leger-Walker for her four All-Pac-12 honors and her conference title with Washington State (which came at UCLA’s expense), and the whole ceremony starts to make less sense.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
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
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
In a TikTok video posted by the Chiefs Thursday night, Kelce congratulates Wagner backstage.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congratulates
Verb
-
Pat O'Donnell, executive director of SAG-AFTRA's Washington-Mid Atlantic Local, which represents hundreds of NPR journalists, commends the network's approach to making job cuts.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
18 May 2026
-
Miss Manners commends you for not being one of them.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In the video, shared on Kennedy's personal X account Tuesday, the health secretary is seen wrangling the snakes with his bare hands, holding the creatures up to the camera as his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, cheers him on in the background.—
Mason Leib,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
Finally, Kim masters the steps and takes to the stage with confidence, as her family cheers her on!—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The two-term Democrat is running in the new 25th Congressional District, which hugs the coast from Delray Beach in the north, through Broward, and ends in Miami Beach.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
28 May 2026
-
One of the reasons the view from the Hydrangea Train is so spectacular is because the route hugs a steep mountain pass in this narrow valley.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Anything Oprah repeatedly praises immediately piques my interest, but even more so when her favorites are podiatrist favorites.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
-
Environmental group praises acquisition Environmental advocates hailed the acquisition as a milestone for Hill Country preservation.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
But later that year, applauds turned into discontent voiced in several closed session meetings.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
-
Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix doesn’t know which way to turn, Iwobi ends up with his hands on his head, Sander Berge simply stands and applauds.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Creepy compliments his acrid smell with an air of invincibility.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Thyme naturally has a lemony undertone that compliments the fresh lemon in these shortbread cookies perfectly.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Congratulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congratulates. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
