SELF-GRATULATORY Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

self-gratulatory

adjective

Definition of self-gratulatory

as in self-adulatory

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-gratulatory

Adjective

Helping someone become confident about protecting herself online can be equally valuable, particularly as more everyday tasks move online and onto apps.

— Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
The 6-foot-5, 242-pounder has learned the roles and responsibilities at defensive end, middle linebacker, weak side linebacker and strong side linebacker, and the Falcons are confident in his ability to play each at a high level.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of confident

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

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
There’s no shortage of people who work in TV news who are extremely self-confident.

— Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026

Definition of self-confident

Adjective

Furthermore, the equalities that do exist often emerge from selfish motives.

— Christopher von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026
The Trask boys are meant to represent a spectrum of good to bad, but as they’re encouraged to make individual choices, that also opens up the possibility of evil choices, selfish choices, destructive choices.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of selfish

Adjective

Roosevelt’s blind spots and foot-dragging are worth remembering as a counterpoint to the self-congratulatory Greatest Generation myth.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Where season three frustrated with its aimless pacing, its unruly plotting, its self-congratulatory strain of goodness, new showrunner Jack Burditt (30 Rock, Modern Family) dials back the worst of the show’s excesses.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of self-congratulatory

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.

Browse Nearby Words

self-government

self-gratulatory

self-hate

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“Self-gratulatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-gratulatory. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of self-gratulatory

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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