congratulatory

adjective

con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry kən-ˈgra-chə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce congratulatory (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The pair finished up with Colbert sending a congratulatory cake from the network – a multi-layered wedding-style beast – sailing downward. Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 May 2026 On Wednesday, congratulatory notes poured in from leaders in the 15-member Caribbean Community, CARICOM, of which The Bahamas is a member. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026 The Cowboys were on the clock at 20, and the Steelers took it for granted that the Cowboys would not be taking (Makai) Lemon and, further, nobody would trade into that spot, so the congratulatory call was made and that was obviously premature. Mike Defabo, New York Times, 4 May 2026 The successful trainer kept grinning through a congratulatory gauntlet following Friday night's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, hoping that colt Emerging Market can double the celebration for him in Saturday's Kentucky Derby. ABC News, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for congratulatory

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of congratulatory was in 1523

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Cite this Entry

“Congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congratulatory. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

congratulatory

adjective
con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry
kən-ˈgrach-(ə-)lə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
: expressing congratulations
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