congratulatory

adjective

con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry kən-ˈgra-chə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈgra-jə-

: expressing or conveying congratulations

a congratulatory message

As the magnitude of our discovery began to sink in, I thought to myself, "I think I know how we're going to be spending the next 20 years." I turned to shake hands and receive congratulatory hugs from our ecstatic workmen.

—Kent R. Weeks

see also self-congratulatory

Examples of congratulatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump said he's taken more than 100 congratulatory calls from his former and future counterparts since the November election. —Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Ohio State posted the congratulatory message on X, highlighting Vance’s ties to the university and the state. —Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024

What To Know Trump's congratulatory message followed a dramatic AFC Championship game where Mahomes delivered a standout performance with 245 yards passing and a touchdown through the air, as well as two more on the ground. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

In the comment section, various of her supporters showered her with sweet congratulatory messages. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing congratulatory

• self-congratulatory

Rhymes for congratulatory

• adjudicatory
• anticipatory
• articulatory
• classificatory
• conciliatory
• discriminatory
• ejaculatory
• emancipatory
• hallucinatory
• interlaboratory
• interrogatory
• investigatory

Kids Definition

congratulatory

adjective

con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry

kən-ˈgrach-(ə-)lə-ˌtōr-ē,

-ˌtȯr-

: expressing congratulations