self-congratulatory

adjective

self-con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry ˌself-kən-ˈgra-chə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈgra-jə-

: expressive of self-congratulation

self-congratulatory memoirs

Examples of self-congratulatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Far too modest and deeply felt to come off as self-congratulatory, Ataei and Keshavarz’s film tells the story of two women — an avant-garde theater director and an improvisational dancer — whose friendship is as unbothered by the government as their work is defined by it. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026

Her enthusiasm for connection and her earnest (but never self-congratulatory) search for truth seem to seep into the foundations of the novel, which is ultimately a hopeful tale of family transformation. —Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026

The World Economic Forum has become a cloistered and self-congratulatory body out of touch with economic realities, its new leader, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said on the opening evening of the 2026 conference. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Don’t be swayed by the self-congratulatory rhetoric. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for self-congratulatory

• nondiscriminatory
• thermoregulatory
• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory
• celebratory
• circulatory
• combinatory
• commendatory
• compensatory
• condemnatory