congratulating
Expressing warm approval
Congratulating is expressing pleasure at someone's success or good fortune.
You congratulate someone on a promotion, a wedding, or a new baby.
The word implies recognition that something positive has happened to them: I spent the morning congratulating the winners.
To congratulate yourself is to feel satisfied with your own achievement, sometimes smugly.
Expressing approval vocally
- complimentingVoicing approval or admiration
- laudingVoicing high esteem
- acclaimingPublicly praising with enthusiasm
- extollingPraising with enthusiasm
commending · honoring · saluting · admiring · endorsing · approving · esteeming · valuing
Favorable outcome attained
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- attainmentSuccessful reaching of goal
excellence · distinction · merit · award · promotion · graduation · winning · passing
Marriage rite and feast
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- birthComing into the world
- anniversaryRecurring memorial date
- retirementLeaving the workforce permanently
graduation · new job · new home · birthday · baptism · bar mitzvah · quinceañera · coming-of-age
Accepting as true
- appreciatingRecognizing value or quality
- creditingAssigning recognition to someone
- validatingConfirming truth or accuracy
- respectingAbout; on the topic
thanking · noticing · paying tribute · tipping hat · shout-out · high-five · fist bump · pat on back
applauding
Expressing approval vocally
- complimentingVoicing approval or admiration
- laudingVoicing high esteem
- acclaimingPublicly praising with enthusiasm
extolling · commending · honoring · saluting · admiring · endorsing · approving · esteeming · valuing · flattering
success
Favorable outcome attained
- victoryDefeating an opponent
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
attainment · excellence · distinction · merit · award · promotion · graduation · winning · passing · completing
wedding
Marriage rite and feast
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- birthComing into the world
- anniversaryRecurring memorial date
retirement · graduation · new job · new home · birthday · baptism · bar mitzvah · quinceañera · coming-of-age · promotion
acknowledging
Accepting as true
- appreciatingRecognizing value or quality
- creditingAssigning recognition to someone
- validatingConfirming truth or accuracy
respecting · thanking · noticing · paying tribute · tipping hat · shout-out · high-five · fist bump · pat on back
- celebrationsgraduation, festival, party, wedding, fireworks
- encouragementencourage, encouraging, praises, hang in there, supports
- sportsmanshipfairness, fair play, sportsmanship, respect, integrity
- glorificationglorifying, glorification, exalting, exaltation, idolizing
- speech actsspeaking, talking, uttering, pronouncement, locution
congratulatingcondemning
Expressing severe disapproval
criticizing · censuring · reproaching · rebuking · admonishing
congratulatingcommiserating
Showing fellow feeling for misfortune
consoling · condoling · comforting · sympathizing · pitying
congratulatingbelittling
Expressing contempt or dismissiveness
disparaging · denigrating · mocking · ridiculing · deriding
- congratulations cardGreeting for achievements