congratulates

verb

present tense third-person singular of congratulate
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

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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 congratulates Tiafoe has been one of Baptiste’s biggest fans and congratulates her often on social media. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 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 As Ospreay walks away, Kenny Omega congratulates him on his performance at Forbidden Door. — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 This logic would not have barred any of the Jim Crow voting devices that the Roberts Court frequently congratulates itself and the nation for overcoming. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 5 June 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 Trump congratulates the Swanson family. — Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for congratulates
  1. commends
  2. cheers
  3. hugs
  4. praises
  5. applauds
  6. compliments
Verb
  • Miss Manners commends it as better than the usual aggressive-aggressive behavior — and more effective.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of commends
Verb
  • Kyle Mulholland, the bartender, rings the bar’s bell, and the lights flicker as everyone cheers again and goes to close out their tabs.
    — Jeremy Rellosa, Curbed, 4 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of cheers
Verb
  • The Adayar Eco Park, a green lung that hugs an estuary, is nearby and worth a visit for its diverse flora and fauna.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
  • In that touching moment, Rob-Will, the son of formidable family ranch owner Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening), hugs his daughter tenderly.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of hugs
Verb
  • Chef Rodrigo Rivera-Río praises Cometa for its contemporary Mexican cuisine that honors traditional roots, recommending the lechón al ataúd.
    — Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Under this light, Penelope emerges as exemplary, cunning, wounded, and trapped by the male order that praises her.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Definition of praises
Verb
  • All are aghast, save Ser Torrhen Manderly, who applauds the farce.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • The Riles team takes home their third consecutive win in the ribs category, and the audience applauds as team members pump their fists in victory.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of applauds
Verb
  • Each brings something different to the table and compliments the other by filling in for the other's weaknesses.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • The investigation also compliments previous claims that CCC’s regulations impede coastal infrastructure projects, which has drawn criticism from multiple political fronts over the last year.
    — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of compliments

Browse Nearby Words

congratulated
congratulates
congratulating
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Cite this Entry

“Congratulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/congratulates. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on congratulates

Nglish: Translation of congratulates for Spanish Speakers

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