self-congratulation

noun

ˌself-kən-ˌgra-chə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce self-congratulation (audio)
Definition of self-congratulationnext
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements the air of self-congratulation that pervades the songwriter's memoirs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-congratulation Anima's version involves more effort and less self-congratulation. — Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2026 Today, the self-congratulation of white liberals has been displaced by white-supremacist promoters of Western civilization who don’t merely posit but brutally enforce inequality between races, peoples, cultures, and nation-states. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Being vocally left-leaning thus provides social status benefits and forms of self-congratulation that being conservative doesn't (if anything, in terms of the broader culture and the opinion-formulating institutions, conservatism tends to be rather lonely and something of a social liability). — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 23 Mar. 2026 That is why this moment demands smarter policy choices, not self-congratulation. — Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-congratulation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-congratulation
  1. vanity
  2. ego
  3. pride
  4. arrogance
  5. smugness
  6. complacency
Noun
  • Prioritize Lasting Placements Over Speed In staffing, speed is a vanity metric.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Most Popular In Oona’s bathroom the tiles are from Country Floors, the vintage mirror is from Venice, Italy, and the vanity is an antique chest that was converted to a vanity with fittings by Waterworks.
    — Sara Ruffin Costello, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of vanity
Noun
  • Unlike other music expert podcasts, this one is stripped of any mansplaining or ego — picture just a bunch of music lovers in a room, sitting by a fire and going deep on how young Bob Weir’s vocals sounded in 1970.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Under the black cape, trash can helmet and ample body armor straight out of a low-budget sci-fi film, Binface’s alter-ego is Jon Harvey, a middle-aged comedian who has spent much of the campaign trying to keep his cool during a sweltering summer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ego
Noun
  • Johnson took pride in the team having only two penalties after emphasizing being disciplined on all three sides of the ball.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Intense pride in their home has resulted in both protective zoning codes and an inbred reluctance to sell.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of pride
Noun
  • Aemond, too, for that matter, while Daemon’s arrogance continues to get Team Black into all sorts of predicaments.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But the league’s own research found that what reads as charisma in Dallas can land as arrogance in Düsseldorf.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogance
Noun
  • The demon was largely limited to one expression — smugness — and was inexplicably the only character who spoke Japanese.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 10 June 2026
  • One widespread subspecies endemic to the area is the haughty Cardinal, recognized by its bright-red plumage and smugness about winning a dozen National League Central crowns.
    — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 31 May 2026
Definition of smugness
Noun
  • And the fact that the Fever couldn’t match the Wings’ desperation served as another lesson in limiting complacency.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Since complacency doesn’t appear to be in the DNA of junior running back Ammar Banire, Oswego’s coaches have been preparing to turn their backfield standout loose.
    — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of complacency

Browse Nearby Words

self-confidently
self-congratulation
self-congratulatory
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-congratulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-congratulation. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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