self-congratulation
noun
the expression or feeling of uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's own accomplishment, good fortune, etc.; complacency.
self-congratulatory
-
a word derived from
self-congratulation.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms. Cho’s Ye-ji is sweetly ingratiating, earnest in her desire to capture the lives of working people, yet she has a self-congratulatory air and turns stiff when politely called to account for her own obliviousness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Then, a self-congratulatory kicker: “No noise. No agenda. Asking the right questions for all Americans, on NewsNation.”
From Slate ● Apr. 21, 2026
When it comes to his wife’s religion, Vance said she has “free will” — an admission he made in his usual self-congratulatory tone.
From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2025
For decades, the powers that be have told a very specific narrative about us: triumphalist and trite, self-congratulatory and sappy, while staying far away from our difficult parts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2024
He told it with a self-congratulatory tone, as if her difference reflected his own good taste.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
