Synonyms

congratulatory

American

[kuhn-grach-uh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -graj-, kuhng-] / kənˈgrætʃ ə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, -ˈgrædʒ-, kəŋ- /

adjective

expressing or conveying congratulations.

a congratulatory telegram.

Other Word Forms

noncongratulatory adjective
quasi-congratulatory adjective
uncongratulatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of congratulatory

1515–25; < Medieval Latin congrātulātōrius, equivalent to Latin congrātulā ( rī ) ( congratulate ) + -tōrious -tory ¹

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.

Afterward the jury gave the judge a congratulatory card.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Eastward, Westward” is the opposite of congratulatory: It is courtly and self-effacing.

From The Wall Street Journal

He is known for keeping in touch with local officials and attending to small details, such as providing congratulatory certificates to graduating high-school seniors.

From The Wall Street Journal

They traded congratulatory speeches and cut into a sheet cake.

From Salon

“It’s on to the next,” he said, an attitude he maintained as he filtered through congratulatory messages from family and friends.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023