Acknowledge
Acknowledge verb - To accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly.
Congratulate and acknowledge are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Congratulate" instead a verb "Acknowledge".
Congratulate
Congratulate verb - To express to (someone) admiration for his or her success or good fortune.
Acknowledge and congratulate are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Acknowledge" instead a verb "Congratulate".
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
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On your birthday, by talking to Lucas or Dawn (depending on who you're playing as), they'll acknowledge the fact that it's your birthday and congratulate you.
Source: Holiday Mode - Uthar will gladly acknowledge a job well done, and congratulate you on your progress.
Source: Affably Evil / Video Games -
Similarly, in "Valediction", while Thompson and the SSR honestly acknowledge Peggy's good work Thompson still takes all the credit when a politician shows up to congratulate the person responsible for stopping the attack.
Source: Series / Agent Carter
Cite this Source
Congratulate and Acknowledge. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 08, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/acknowledge/congratulate
Acknowledge & Congratulate. N.p., 2016. Web. 08 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/acknowledge/congratulate>.
Congratulate or Acknowledge. 2016. Accessed August 08, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/acknowledge/congratulate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "acknowledge" and "congratulate" have occurred on timeline