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's staff tried to limit some calls to just a minute and asked that they be congratulatory in nature, not substantive. —Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2025

In support, Swift liked the post, a subtle congratulatory gesture. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025

By February of 1965, over a million records were sold and to this day, Williams still has those congratulatory telegrams and plaques on his wall at home. —Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 8 Jan. 2025

Mackie popped into Stan’s interview with Access Hollywood holding a congratulatory rose and singing. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing congratulatory

• self-congratulatory

Kids Definition

congratulatory

adjective

con·​grat·​u·​la·​to·​ry

kən-ˈgrach-(ə-)lə-ˌtōr-ē,

-ˌtȯr-

: expressing congratulations