self-congratulatory

adjective

Definition of self-congratulatorynext
as in self-assured

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of self-congratulatory The mood was celebratory and a bit self-congratulatory. — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026 Some experts say if Kim Jong Un sought to use the congress to solidify his daughter as successor, the signals would likely be subtle, such as self-congratulatory statements about North Korea’s survival and crediting that endurance to the successful inheritance of the socialist cause. — ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026 Far too modest and deeply felt to come off as self-congratulatory, Ataei and Keshavarz’s film tells the story of two women — an avant-garde theater director and an improvisational dancer — whose friendship is as unbothered by the government as their work is defined by it. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 28 Jan. 2026 The World Economic Forum has become a cloistered and self-congratulatory body out of touch with economic realities, its new leader, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said on the opening evening of the 2026 conference. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-congratulatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-congratulatory
  1. self-assured
  2. self-confident
  3. confident
  4. selfish
  5. self-promoting
  6. overconfident
  7. self-centered
  8. pretentious
Adjective
  • Part bildungsroman, part romance, Doran’s fizzy yet intelligent interpretation is as self-assured as its protagonist, with anachronistic flourishes that pay homage to Sybylla’s spirit of subversion.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Free-spirited, self-assured and rebellious, Oona has an unapologetic streak that’s reflected in her hair.
    — Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-assured
Adjective
  • That you would be invited to the in-house training program in 2008 was a matter of course, after your fittingly self-confident application.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Bouncing back against the strictly masculine norms of his hometown, Bobby comes off as the most emotionally intelligent and self-confident member of King of the Hill’s cast.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of self-confident
Adjective
  • But that concern has been addressed here thanks to the aforementioned brake upgrades, which deliver confident stopping power at speed as well as excellent pedal feel.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Jim is confident Kimberly-Clark can unlock value from the Tylenol maker, which was spun off from healthcare giant and Club name Johnson & Johnson in 2023 and struggled to find its footing as a standalone entity.
    — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of confident
Adjective
  • Also on Weekend Update, James Austin Johnson portrayed a selfish Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank investor who is backing a massive data center campus in northwest Utah.
    — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026
  • That’s also how Violet is thinking about their portrayal of Maureen, whose eccentric performance art and selfish behavior often give the character a bad rap.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of selfish
Adjective
  • This approach fosters genuine respect, trust, and loyalty, offering a powerful alternative to today's loud, self-promoting culture.
    — Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Critics call social media posts self-promotion While the president praised her as a fighter, critics called out her self-promoting social media use, including videos showing her in tactical gear at raids with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of self-promoting
Adjective
  • The supremely overconfident Graver finally shows some remorse for the damage their dirty work has inflicted on innocent lives.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Based on recent viewership trends, the league is slightly overconfident.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of overconfident
Adjective
  • Watts was also hindering the healing process by being insensitive and self-centered, friends say.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The Jordan that the audience gets to know is a bit surly and self-centered.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of self-centered
Adjective
  • But others have slammed the effort as a pretentious and obnoxious slog.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Leigh feared the tracks might be too arch, too pretentious, too insincere.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of pretentious

Browse Nearby Words

self-congratulation
self-congratulatory
self-conscious
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Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulatory. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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