self-congratulatory

Definition of self-congratulatorynext

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
Adjective
  • Part bildungsroman, part romance, Doran’s fizzy yet intelligent interpretation is as self-assured as its protagonist, with anachronistic flourishes that pay homage to Sybylla’s spirit of subversion.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Free-spirited, self-assured and rebellious, Oona has an unapologetic streak that’s reflected in her hair.
    Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Bouncing back against the strictly masculine norms of his hometown, Bobby comes off as the most emotionally intelligent and self-confident member of King of the Hill’s cast.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no shortage of people who work in TV news who are extremely self-confident.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • Leo July 23 – August 22 A confident explanation could still be missing a few facts.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • World Athletics are confident about the event, as risky as trying something new can be in sport, for a couple of reasons.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • No one, in my opinion, comes close to this selfish, foul-mouthed and stupid showman.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • All of the big talk about personal drive, which makes Free Solo so darkly compelling, immediately crumbles into selfish pablum the second that children are introduced into the equation.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
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
Adjective
  • As Buddy Crane, a buffoonish, overconfident opposing counsel who works in house for Acme, John Cena relishes his role just as much as Buddy relishes laughing at Kevin.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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
Adjective
  • Jerry could easily be a caricature of a pretentious artiste stuck overseeing anonymous regional theater productions.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Breaking down the song of the summer debate Music reviewers on social media are, more often than not, pretentious snobs who take themselves too seriously, but Mic The Snare is a welcome change of pace.
    Moises Mendez II, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulatory. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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