self-congratulation

noun

ˌself-kən-ˌgra-chə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce self-congratulation (audio)
Definition of self-congratulationnext
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements the air of self-congratulation that pervades the songwriter's memoirs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-congratulation Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Being vocally left-leaning thus provides social status benefits and forms of self-congratulation that being conservative doesn't (if anything, in terms of the broader culture and the opinion-formulating institutions, conservatism tends to be rather lonely and something of a social liability). — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026 That is why this moment demands smarter policy choices, not self-congratulation. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026 Rutte told attendees that the move wasn’t a moment for self-congratulations as Russia continues its large-scale drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. — Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-congratulation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-congratulation
  1. vanity
  2. ego
  3. pride
  4. arrogance
  5. smugness
  6. complacency
Noun
  • Generously sized bathroom with marble vanities, enveloping terrycloth robes, and slippers.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Painting a vanity, using small doses of wallpaper, and styling with art can make a big difference.
    — Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • Visitors would find artifacts such as the candlestand, where Washington chose humility over ego and began the peaceful transfer of power.
    — Lonnie G. Bunch III, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
  • The Aussie needed to have some amount of ego to achieve that confidence, something Wright didn’t have or realize.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • The history of Kaskaskia is full of stories of resilience and stubborn pride, but also of the inevitability of nature.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Schlanger’s pride in his Jewishness forced Goldstein to reflect on her upbringing.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of pride
Noun
  • Needless to say there was no second date, and, eventually though painfully, my own arrogance had some of its rough edges worn down.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
  • In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • The demon was largely limited to one expression — smugness — and was inexplicably the only character who spoke Japanese.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 10 June 2026
  • One widespread subspecies endemic to the area is the haughty Cardinal, recognized by its bright-red plumage and smugness about winning a dozen National League Central crowns.
    — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 31 May 2026
Definition of smugness
Noun
  • He was appalled by the slaughter, but, more than that, by the complacency of his neighbors, their willingness to ignore the bloody work being done under their noses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • As the collection makes clear, Aviv prefers restless questioning to closure or complacency.
    — Julia M. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of complacency

Browse Nearby Words

self-confidently
self-congratulation
self-congratulatory
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Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulation. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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