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

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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 Please join us in congratulating Missy on a well-deserved retirement. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 22 May 2025 After his wife, Hailey Bieber, appeared looking happy, healthy, and gorgeous on the cover of the June 2025 issue of Vogue, Justin Bieber took to Instagram to congratulate the model on the achievement in a sort of a backhanded way. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 20 May 2025 An array of European leaders congratulated Dan on his victory, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Poland’s Donald Tusk and Moldova’s Maia Sandu. Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 19 May 2025 The Redditor said that her mother-in-law started tearing up and her boss stood up to congratulate them. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for congratulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congratulate
Verb
  • Araujo, however, commended Marshall’s for his work ethic.
    C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • Elsewhere in the interview, Lauper commended Chappell Roan, who several critics have likened to Lauper as Roan has made her ascent to pop superstardom over the past year.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • This week, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney cheered the latest ruling.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025
  • Some friends and members are very willing to show up whenever and wherever to cheer us on.
    Eric Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Verb
  • They obviously didn't get hugged enough as children –either of them.
    Steve Inskeep, NPR, 6 June 2025
  • Hand 103, Bethel, 102 ½. There was bedlam, Hand kids screaming and jumping and yelling and hugging each other.
    Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Read More: 9 Ways to Set Healthy Boundaries With Your Parents That might mean remembering to ask your sister how her presentation at work went, complimenting your mom’s cooking, or offering to babysit your grandkids so their parents can have a night to themselves.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 28 May 2025
  • Another favorite pick is the Nicolette Hand-Knotted Wool Rug—not a furniture piece per se, but a must-have accessory for complimenting a room’s decor.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • While some prominent Jews have praised Trump’s Harvard crackdown, many others say the administration’s actions appear more focused on damaging higher education than addressing the concerns of Jewish students.
    Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
  • While many praised the video’s message and Rylie’s insightful approach, others criticized the mom for not sharing her specific experiences with her daughter.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Congratulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congratulate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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