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

Among those sending him congratulatory comments were Drake, Travis Scott, Quavo and Wheezy. — Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2026

People recently reported that Harry and William both wrote congratulatory letters to the 198 Diana Award recipients. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2026

The comment had more than 700 likes about 20 minutes later, and many replies were congratulatory. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

The 37-year-old reporter’s colleagues responded with congratulatory messages. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026

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