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

Within two minutes, the star running back’s phone buzzed with his first congratulatory text. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 5 Aug. 2026

The first telegraph message crossed the Atlantic via transatlantic cable, with Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan exchanging congratulatory messages. — USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

President Miguel Díaz-Canel read a congratulatory message from Castro to his compatriots at the rally, held in the eastern city of Pinar del Río. — Andrea Rodríguez, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026

The father of three closed out his post with a congratulatory message to Spain. — Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 20 July 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