SELF-CONGRATULATORY Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

self-congratulatory

adjective

as in self-assured

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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 Her enthusiasm for connection and her earnest (but never self-congratulatory) search for truth seem to seep into the foundations of the novel, which is ultimately a hopeful tale of family transformation. — Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 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 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 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

Adjective

But what was missing was more of a winning spirit, more aggressive, uninhibited and self-assured.

— Max Mathews, New York Times, 9 June 2026
Time gave us the late-career brilliance of filmmakers like Jane Campion, Agnès Varda, Claire Denis, and Kathryn Bigelow, whose work became richer, fiercer, and more self-assured because these women had lived and learned so much.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 31 May 2026

Definition of self-assured

Adjective

Exploring the recent opportunity Baird is confident Innio will be able to lead and set the highest price target at $50.

— Assiatou Hann, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Speaking of golf, a confident politician or a confident reporter, for that matter, should walk like a golfer coming down the fairway on the 18th hole with a three-stroke lead in a major tournament.

— Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 2 July 2026

Definition of confident

Adjective

Unlike Reborn Rich, Reborn Rookie is a comedy, finding a fair amount of fun in the story of a CEO who accidentally swaps bodies with a young soccer player, and uses the opportunity to get revenge on his selfish children.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 July 2026
Across 15 tracks, the rapper and producer get to work making their first proper body of work together as memorable as expected, delving into relationship mishaps, selfish tendencies, and the absurdist comedy that is real life.

— Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 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 101 recipes are chef-smart without being pretentious or complicated.

— Sheela Prakash, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 July 2026
But there’s much to like here — from the two leads, the numerous Bay Area shots (the Golden Gate Bridge should get a supporting actor credit), Nick Offerman as a pretentious, cruel chef and Lukas Gage as a clueless cretin love interest/coworker.

— Randy Myers, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

Definition of pretentious

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self-congratulation

self-congratulatory

self-conscious

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“Self-congratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulatory. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of self-congratulatory

adjective

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