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

Puig, the team’s most influential player, immediately posted a congratulatory message after the club made Vanney’s extension official. —Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 May 2025

After watching an episode of the Netflix comedy, which wrapped its final season earlier this year, Jones sent an innocuous congratulatory message to Simon. —Nathan Vinson, People.com, 17 May 2025

Duterte’s old Facebook account was flooded with congratulatory messages from supporters, with some calling for his return to serve his people. —Reuters, NBC news, 13 May 2025

The school known as the ‘wildcats’ posted a congratulatory statement after the announcement. —Asher Notheis, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 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