commend

To praise someone or something for a good action or quality.

• I commend your hard work.
• The committee commended her for helping local families.
• His careful research was highly commended by the judges.

How to use it: commend someone for something (The mayor commended the firefighters for their courage.); commend someone for doing something (I commend you for speaking honestly.)

Similar words: praise, applaud, acclaim

Opposites: criticize, condemn

Common phrases: commend someone's courage, commend someone for something, highly commend someone, commend a proposal

To congratulate someone or give them official recognition for something good they have done.

• The school commended him for his achievement.
• Three officers were officially commended at the ceremony.
• She was commended for saving a neighbor's life.

How to use it: commend someone for doing something (The council commended her for rescuing a child.)

Similar words: honor, congratulate, reward

Common phrases: commend someone for something, formally commend someone, officially commend someone