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

Somebody send this guy a congratulatory greeting card. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026

When the album came out early this year, Perry was flooded with congratulatory notes from just about everyone in his life. —Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026

At the end of Dybantsa’s 27-point performance, the BYU star shook Reid’s hand in congratulatory fashion. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026

Though the ethics of such a tactic were debated by the basketball masses, the vibes among NBA players on social media were overwhelmingly congratulatory. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026

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