as in cheering
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
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Recent Examples of congratulating
Daniel Girdler got plenty of text messages this week congratulating him on his recent engagement.
—
Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 10 Jan. 2026
In a video from a tournament last month posted to Hudl, Downes can be seen congratulating a member of the team by briefly tapping her backside after a match.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Please join us in congratulating Erik on his new role!
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
The couple met via Instagram DM when Rivera sent Herrold a message congratulating her on the success of the show’s first season in 2020.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Miss Appleberry holds a field day for JJ and his classmates, and the friends learn about being competitive while congratulating and helping each other when needed.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 2 Jan. 2026
Fans couldn't help but comment on the actress's toned figure, with many of them also congratulating her on her independence since ending her engagement earlier this year.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
According to a source, Bullock was gracious behind the scenes, congratulating the cast and crew following the performance.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Ahmed, 43, became the topic of several social media posts congratulating his bravery during the shooting, which left 15 people dead, including one gunman.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 14 Dec. 2025
Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 10 Jan. 2026
In a video from a tournament last month posted to Hudl, Downes can be seen congratulating a member of the team by briefly tapping her backside after a match.
—Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Please join us in congratulating Erik on his new role!
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
The couple met via Instagram DM when Rivera sent Herrold a message congratulating her on the success of the show’s first season in 2020.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 5 Jan. 2026
Miss Appleberry holds a field day for JJ and his classmates, and the friends learn about being competitive while congratulating and helping each other when needed.
—Alex Vance, Parents, 2 Jan. 2026
Fans couldn't help but comment on the actress's toned figure, with many of them also congratulating her on her independence since ending her engagement earlier this year.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
According to a source, Bullock was gracious behind the scenes, congratulating the cast and crew following the performance.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025
Ahmed, 43, became the topic of several social media posts congratulating his bravery during the shooting, which left 15 people dead, including one gunman.
—Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congratulating
Verb
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After Kaplan dropped to one knee and Scott said yes, both their families emerged from behind a small nearby building, cheering and celebrating the moment.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Dahlquist and his business partners marketed their version by splurging on 11th-row, 50-yard-line seats to a Bears-Packers game in 2013, cheering until the TV cameras noticed.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Georgia House Republicans withdraw resolution commending DOGE.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
13 Jan. 2026
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While presenting her with the RRHOF milestone, Roan gave a speech commending Lauper’s influence and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The overall pessimism is leading people to stay put in their current jobs out of fear of facing a challenging job market, also known as job hugging.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
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The crowd started kissing and hugging and crying — New Year’s Eve who?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hudson has heard from studio heads, producers and other past collaborators praising her work.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
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In a post on X, Huberman shared the White House’s graphic of the new pyramid, praising the decisions that were made.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The rooms Rooms in the main house nod to the building’s noble bones, complimenting its sweeping ceilings with airy whites and modern lacquers.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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In her lawsuit, which was first filed in 2021, Walters claimed that Warner lured her into a job in 2010 by complimenting her photography and offering an artistic collaboration.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Her fellow nominees — Amy Madigan, Ariana Grande, Emily Blunt, Elle Fanning, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — could all be seen applauding for her along the way.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
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As clips and screenshots circulated online, fans couldn’t resist chiming in — some applauding the glam game-day outfit, others offering hot takes and pop-culture comparisons of their own.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Congratulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congratulating. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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