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 the comment section, friends, family and fans of the Bates family shared their congratulatory messages. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025

What was supposed to be a congratulatory gift has turned into a Hurricanes playoff shopping spree at the team store. —Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025

She was greeted by a flurry of congratulatory calls from her agent and manager, and plans to have a low-key celebration with her husband, actor Ed Harris. —Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025

Still, Beijing seems to be betting on Cheng; Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent her a congratulatory message on her win, and a meeting between them is in the cards. —Andy Browne, semafor.com, 7 Dec. 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