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Synonyms

congratulatory

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

adjective

  1. expressing or conveying congratulations.

    a congratulatory telegram.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of congratulatory

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

Vocabulary lists containing congratulatory

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.

A second cable in August 1858 successfully carried congratulatory messages between Queen Victoria and President James Buchanan and was hailed by the New York Times as “the great event of the age.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Setting warm tones for the visit, the two leaders exchanged "congratulatory letters" on Sunday to mark 30 years of their countries' strategic partnership.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

County Supervisor Janice Hahn began the ceremony with congratulatory remarks, stating, “The voters of Whittier spoke.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

He has always been congratulatory of me, almost proud of me in a sense.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

On Saturday, soon after receiving Ferris’s congratulatory telegram, Rice cabled back that in fact the first car already had been hung.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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