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

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

Lindsay, a liberal Republican, sent a congratulatory telegram and hosted the Knicks for a reception at the official mayoral residence, according to news coverage at the time. — Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 17 June 2026

No congratulatory handshakes for the New York Knicks, who took Game 5, 94-90, and the finals, 4-1. — Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 June 2026

Questions were congratulatory in nature, although one festivalgoer noted AI’s inconsistency as a tool. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 12 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