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

According to Tidal, the idea of Nas creating a playlist inspired by Jay-Z’s career was both reciprocal and congratulatory. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 July 2026

Her phone gets a near-constant barrage of congratulatory texts. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Fireworks go off from behind the stage and congratulatory music plays. — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026

Throughout the playoffs, Brunson was cheered on by SVU star and pal Mariska Hargitay, who made it to Madison Square Garden for multiple games and even sent him a congratulatory text during their NBA Finals run. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 22 June 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