congratulatory

adjective

con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry kən-ˈgra-chə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈgra-jə-

: expressing or conveying congratulations

a congratulatory message

As the magnitude of our discovery began to sink in, I thought to myself, "I think I know how we're going to be spending the next 20 years." I turned to shake hands and receive congratulatory hugs from our ecstatic workmen.

—Kent R. Weeks

see also self-congratulatory

Examples of congratulatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a congratulatory post, McConaughy praised Garmire’s grit. —Outside, 26 Sep. 2025

Petty received a number of congratulatory messages in her comments, including from a few other Survivor castaways. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025

Tami Roman, Cardi B, Busta Rhymes, Teresa Guidice, Claudia Jordan, Porsha Williams, and more all took to the comment section to share congratulatory messages for the couple. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 23 Sep. 2025

Many of Monét's Drag Race sisters flooded her comments with congratulatory messages, including Morphine Love Dion, Aquaria, Shea Couleé, Raja, and Jimbo. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing congratulatory

• self-congratulatory

Rhymes for congratulatory

• adjudicatory
• anticipatory
• articulatory
• classificatory
• conciliatory
• discriminatory
• ejaculatory
• emancipatory
• hallucinatory
• interlaboratory
• interrogatory
• investigatory

Kids Definition

congratulatory

adjective

con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry

kən-ˈgrach-(ə-)lə-ˌtōr-ē,

-ˌtȯr-

: expressing congratulations