self-congratulatory

adjective

Definition of self-congratulatorynext
as in self-assured

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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 mood was celebratory and a bit self-congratulatory. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026 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 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
  • Free-spirited, self-assured and rebellious, Oona has an unapologetic streak that’s reflected in her hair.
    — Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But in periods of rapid change, leaders who earn trust are rarely the most self-assured.
    — Rochelle Blease, Forbes.com, 29 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
  • At that point, the Spanish club was confident he would soon be snapped up by one of the game’s giants for mega money, so was happy to play the long game.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • People that are not very confident don’t want to hear another voice, especially a different voice.
    — Elise Devlin, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of confident
Adjective
  • Not because this generation is somehow softer or more selfish.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In essence, charisma is a vehicle for alignment and temporarily eroding the individual or selfish agendas that typically undermine effective group coordination and team collaboration.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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
  • What’s more, our findings suggest that some users may be overconfident about their ability to inject peptides.
    — C. Michael White, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Even current geopolitical miscalculations can reinforce skepticism toward overconfident, short-horizon initiatives.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of overconfident
Adjective
  • Watts was also hindering the healing process by being insensitive and self-centered, friends say.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The Jordan that the audience gets to know is a bit surly and self-centered.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulatory. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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