as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the air of self-congratulation that pervades the songwriter's memoirs
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Recent Examples of self-congratulation
Spun off from Yang and Rogers’ podcast, Las Culturistas, the Culture Awards lovingly spoof the entertainment industry’s obsession with prizes and self-congratulation.
—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Nevertheless, the self-aggrandizing and self-congratulations on display in the first three episodes available for review implies humility may be in short supply.
—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Being vocally left-leaning thus provides social status benefits and forms of self-congratulation that being conservative doesn't (if anything, in terms of the broader culture and the opinion-formulating institutions, conservatism tends to be rather lonely and something of a social liability).
—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
There’s a note of self-congratulation running through this work too — tricky to pinpoint because it comes swathed in both twee humility and real suffering.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
17 Mar. 2026
That is why this moment demands smarter policy choices, not self-congratulation.
—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Rutte told attendees that the move wasn’t a moment for self-congratulations as Russia continues its large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
But Putin will not be persuaded by bluster and self-congratulation alone.
—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Nevertheless, the self-aggrandizing and self-congratulations on display in the first three episodes available for review implies humility may be in short supply.
—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states.
—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Being vocally left-leaning thus provides social status benefits and forms of self-congratulation that being conservative doesn't (if anything, in terms of the broader culture and the opinion-formulating institutions, conservatism tends to be rather lonely and something of a social liability).
—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
There’s a note of self-congratulation running through this work too — tricky to pinpoint because it comes swathed in both twee humility and real suffering.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
17 Mar. 2026
That is why this moment demands smarter policy choices, not self-congratulation.
—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Rutte told attendees that the move wasn’t a moment for self-congratulations as Russia continues its large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.
—
Ashley Carnahan,
FOXNews.com,
11 Dec. 2025
But Putin will not be persuaded by bluster and self-congratulation alone.
—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-congratulation
Noun
-
Let go of the vanity metrics, and put your time where the value is.
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Elsewhere, Prada made a case for vanity pouches swinging from belts; keychains were back at Tod’s; and at Giorgio Armani, models sported the letters G and A pinned to their blazers in homage to the late designer, who died last September.
Noun
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Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
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Politics, Lander said, didn’t have to be a selfish endeavor driven by ego.
Noun
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There was no plan, no standoff between gang rivals, no battle for pride and respect at 10th and K streets, Mtula Payton’s attorney told jurors Wednesday.
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Aside from hotel-quality designs, the bedding brand takes pride in their fair-trade practices and non-toxic materials, and has earned Fair Trade Certified and Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) seals.
Noun
-
Needless to say there was no second date, and, eventually though painfully, my own arrogance had some of its rough edges worn down.
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In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
Noun
-
The demon was largely limited to one expression — smugness — and was inexplicably the only character who spoke Japanese.
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One widespread subspecies endemic to the area is the haughty Cardinal, recognized by its bright-red plumage and smugness about winning a dozen National League Central crowns.
Noun
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Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
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While high prices highlight vulnerabilities, lower prices foster complacency, delaying crucial investments in domestic infrastructure.
Cite this Entry
“Self-congratulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulation. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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