self-congratulatory

adjective

Definition of self-congratulatorynext
as in self-assured

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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-congratulatory Some experts say if Kim Jong Un sought to use the congress to solidify his daughter as successor, the signals would likely be subtle, such as self-congratulatory statements about North Korea’s survival and crediting that endurance to the successful inheritance of the socialist cause. — ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026 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 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 See All Example Sentences for self-congratulatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-congratulatory
  1. self-assured
  2. self-confident
  3. confident
  4. selfish
  5. self-promoting
  6. overconfident
  7. self-centered
  8. pretentious
Adjective
  • But in periods of rapid change, leaders who earn trust are rarely the most self-assured.
    — Rochelle Blease, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Where some may see this behavior as vain or egotistical, others may perceive it as bold, self-assured and passionate.
    — Mallorie Sullivan, USA Today, 20 July 2026
Definition of self-assured
Adjective
  • There’s no shortage of people who work in TV news who are extremely self-confident.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
  • First, Gibson is a self-confident if nerdy music therapist — and a wannabe pop composer — as George.
    — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 9 May 2026
Definition of self-confident
Adjective
  • Welcome to Style Forecast, a monthly horoscope that uses astrology to help each zodiac sign feel like their most confident and aligned self.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
  • What’s the most recent segment that had you a little less confident?
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
Definition of confident
Adjective
  • Erika is manipulative and selfish; Elliot doesn’t respect her boundaries either.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • This Fire sign reminds us that taking up space and being unapologetically yourself isn’t inherently selfish, and genuine self-expression can be incredibly brave.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of selfish
Adjective
  • This approach fosters genuine respect, trust, and loyalty, offering a powerful alternative to today's loud, self-promoting culture.
    — Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Critics call social media posts self-promotion While the president praised her as a fighter, critics called out her self-promoting social media use, including videos showing her in tactical gear at raids with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of self-promoting
Adjective
  • Computer scientist Melanie Mitchell has documented how hidden assumptions produce overconfident AI forecasts.
    — Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • As for which generations are most overconfident in their repair abilities?
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 1 July 2026
Definition of overconfident
Adjective
  • Employees do not need to become self-centered or aggressive to receive proper recognition.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 June 2026
  • His new wife is demanding and self-centered, with clear narcissistic traits.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
Definition of self-centered
Adjective
  • By applying a jammy, near-Baduist flow to the sequencing, Zay can cogently dissect 10 ideas in one three-minute song without sounding crowded or, worse, pretentious.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026
  • The Majestic espouses a traditional luxury hotel style without feeling stuffy or pretentious.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of pretentious

Browse Nearby Words

self-congratulation
self-congratulatory
self-conscious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulatory. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All