self-congratulatory

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 The collection documents both sides of the slavery debate, pro and con—a useful correction to the self-congratulatory view of British history that celebrates abolition and turns a blind eye to everyone who defended slavery. Literary Hub, 29 July 2025 There’s a sameness there that the series’s compressed adaptation of its source material only exacerbates, and that makes Dream’s one-note development feel thin and self-congratulatory. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2025 Anne Meara was the talk of the town in the role of a bag lady who spurned the self-congratulatory charity of guilty swells. Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 Further, self-congratulatory crowing aside, the truth is that most low-income seniors already do not pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. Amber Gray-Fenner, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-congratulatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-congratulatory
Adjective
  • But Nobody’s Girl floats free, self-assured and self-contained—a true American tragedy.
    Julia Hass, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • There’s a push-pull to him, a magnetic duality: stoic and deeply sensitive, anxious and self-assured.
    Carrie Battan, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And it could be accelerated by the continued rise of angry, resentful, self-glorifying nationalism in many countries.
    Michael J. Mazarr, Foreign Affairs, 6 May 2022
Adjective
  • As a direct result of this, businesses end up with managers who aren’t confident in their ability to lead, and who struggle to deal with the various challenges that come with managing people, leading both employees and struggling managers to resign.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
  • In fact, Golden State was feeling so confident that their television network decided to take a playful jab at Lakers superstar LeBron James.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • After sharing his story online, commenters expressed sympathy for the boy’s situation, calling his father’s behavior selfish and neglectful.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Expecting others to adapt to us is a selfish gesture that distorts the spirit of travel.
    Wilson Santiago Burgos, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Against all odds, two narcissistic, self-promoting people can talk to each other and really can get curious and vulnerable and connect.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Needless to say, all these vain, privileged, self-promoting jerks are soon going to make CW’s acquaintance, then regret it — even as vengeful Madison zeroes in on that lady’s whereabouts.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There is a better approach than making overconfident guesses: rigorously testing new practices and strategies and only widely advocating for the ones that have robust evidence of effectiveness.
    Justin Reich, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Lee is a pest and a scoundrel, chronically broke and overconfident, maybe a talented writer or at least one who’s quick with literary references.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Our hero can be remarkably obnoxious and self-centered.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Jay is a little more self-centered.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Each burger is hand-packed with crisp lettuce, tomato, pickles and just a swipe of mustard — nothing unnecessary, nothing pretentious.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Need to drop a levity bomb in the middle of a group of pretentious characters?
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulatory. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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