congratulatory

[ kuhn-grach-uh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee or, often, -graj-, kuhng- ]

/ kənˈgrætʃ ə ləˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i or, often, -ˈgrædʒ-, kəŋ- /

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See synonyms for congratulatory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

expressing or conveying congratulations: a congratulatory telegram.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of congratulatory

1515–25; <Medieval Latin congrātulātōrius, equivalent to Latin congrātulā(rī) (see congratulate) + -tōrious-tory¹

OTHER WORDS FROM congratulatory

non·con·grat·u·la·to·ry, adjectivequa·si-con·grat·u·la·to·ry, adjectiveun·con·grat·u·la·to·ry, adjective

Words nearby congratulatory

congrats, congratulant, congratulate, congratulation, congratulations, congratulatory, congregant, congregate, congregate housing, congregation, congregational

How to use congratulatory in a sentence

There’s a fine line between movies that are genuinely original and those that feel deliberately orchestrated to shock and repel us in a winking, self-congratulatory way.
Titane Strives to Shock, But It's Running on Empty|Stephanie Zacharek|October 1, 2021|Time
Social media was flooded with congratulatory notes to her and actor Anthony Mackie invited her to the ESPY Awards, which he is hosting.
Zaila Avant-garde wins 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, becoming bee’s first African American champion|Amy B Wang, Timothy Bella|July 9, 2021|Washington Post
Forward it to a friend, and then see if they send you a congratulatory note.
Robinhood filing, US jobs report, space bathroom vistas|Hasit Shah|July 2, 2021|Quartz
“So in love with my son,” she captioned a photo while also sharing that celebrities like Beyoncé and Kanye West had sent congratulatory gifts her way.
Nicki Minaj Introduced the World To Her Newborn Son|Charli Penn|October 22, 2020|Essence.com

He described the scene during a congratulatory call from the Nobel Committee.
World Food Program wins Nobel Peace Prize|Axios|October 9, 2020|Axios
ERIK: He texted us about a few weeks ago, just to kind of give us a congratulatory text on “Skydive” and the video.
Not a Liquid Dream: O-Town's Back, Baby. But Where’s Ashley?|Melissa Leon|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The general reaction among his teammates was congratulatory and warm, but in retrospect surprisingly muted.
Babe Ruth’s Summer of Records|Bill Bryson|September 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Author Gary Shteyngart was even congratulatory: “Mazel Tov, Random Penguin!”
The Victims of the Penguin & Random House Merger: Literary Agents|Ella Delany|November 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“It was not in my nature to turn the campaign into a constant exercise in self-congratulatory autobiography,” he explained.
George McGovern, Democratic Icon and Former Presidential Candidate, Dies at Age 90|Eleanor Clift|October 21, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The celebrations have been unanimous, just as they have been unanimously self-congratulatory.
Berlusconi Exits, and an Era of Sexist Buffoonery Is Over|Lawrence Osborne|November 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Sues saucy, self-congratulatory toss of the head 14 stung her so that she could have cried out.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
Lawrence received a congratulatory message from General Schofield, highly praising him.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Every effort was made to obtain congratulatory addresses on the peace from municipal bodies, and money was offered for them.
The Political History of England - Vol. X.|William Hunt
But this congratulatory strain of the queen of Sheba may be applied to the Christian age, and to "a greater than Solomon."
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I|Francis Augustus Cox
But it was not a simple congratulatory address that Charles, or his mother, required of his parliament.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots|Henry Baird