congratulatory words

USAGE SUMMARY

"congratulatory words" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to expressions of congratulations or praise. Example: "She received many congratulatory words after her graduation." Alternative expressions include "words of congratulations" and "expressions of praise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In the lobby after the concert, several message boards were filled with congratulatory words for him, ranging from "You rock!" to specific recollections of favorite performances.

The New York Times - Arts

With the congratulatory words about vanishing borders in central Europe, however, some of those who follow events in this part of the world feared that events farther east were being ignored.

The New York Times

Beyond congratulatory words, which he would get about his framed pictures anyway, there is only the intrinsic value of the art for Goodwin that remains.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In a short biographical essay on O'Reilly for the Barclays World of Cricket book, his contemporary, the England cricketer Ian Peebles, wrote that "any scoring-stroke was greeted by a testy demand for the immediate return of the ball rather than a congratulatory word.

Wikipedia

New York, never at a loss for self-congratulatory words, regards itself as the most tolerant of cities, a place where one may express any thought freely.

The New York Times

Parsons, who didn't have tickets for Sunday's game, said that even better than the weather was the timing of the event that, in the self-congratulatory words of N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell, "put Indianapolis on the global stage".

The New York Times - Sports

If cheerleading, empty rhetoric and self-congratulatory words about the president's questionable tax-cut bill could adequately serve as the ingredients of a promising economic recovery strategy, then President Bush's economic forum would win high marks.

The New York Times

One hopes that despite the Bush administration spokesmen's self-congratulatory words, the consequences of questionable national and international decisions made during the president's stewardship underscore the need for change.

The New York Times

Anyone who watched the Oscars on Sunday knows that the operative self-congratulatory word for the night was "courage".

The New York Times

Groups of drivers, builders, entrepreneurs, teachers and masons held enormous congratulatory banners pairing a picture of Aziz and words of welcome with the name of their unions.

The New York Times

At the same time, their words are often disguised as a congratulatory remark.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "congratulatory words" to describe the collective sentiment of a crowd or the general tone of a message board. It works best when you want to highlight the supportive environment surrounding an achievement.

Common error

Do not use modifiers like "positive congratulatory words" because the adjective already implies a positive sentiment. Keep your writing concise by letting the adjective carry the full meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "congratulatory words" serves as a noun phrase where the adjective "congratulatory" modifies the plural noun "words". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often acts as the direct object of a sentence or the object of a preposition, describing the nature of communication received by an individual after a success.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Social Media

1%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "congratulatory words" is a sophisticated and grammatically sound way to describe expressions of praise and celebration. While Ludwig AI categorizes its specific exact-match frequency as Rare, it appears consistently across top-tier editorial sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker. It is most often utilized in narrative or reporting contexts to summarize the supportive reaction to a person's achievement or a significant cultural event. Writers should feel confident using this phrase in professional or journalistic writing to convey a sense of public or private acclaim without the need for repetitive phrasing. It serves as a more descriptive alternative to simply saying "praise" or "congratulations".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

words of praise

More general and focuses on the act of giving positive feedback rather than specifically celebrating an event

messages of congratulations

Specifically refers to written or transmitted communications rather than spoken sentiment

celebratory remarks

Suggests a more formal or public context, such as a speech given during an event

laudatory comments

Highly formal and academic, emphasizing the aspect of high praise

commendatory remarks

Focuses on official recognition or formal approval of someone's actions

accolades

Refers to awards or honors themselves as well as the words that accompany them

expressions of acclaim

Emphasizes public and enthusiastic approval or widespread recognition

felicitations

A very formal, slightly old-fashioned term for congratulations

well-wishes

Softer and broader, including general good intent alongside specific praise

tributes

Implies a more substantial or structured form of recognition, often honoring a career or legacy

FAQs

How do I use "congratulatory words" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a reaction to success, such as: "The athlete was moved by the "congratulatory words" from her teammates."

What can I say instead of "congratulatory words"?

Depending on the level of formality, you might use "words of praise", "celebratory remarks" or "messages of congratulations".

Is it better to say "congratulatory words" or "words of congratulations"?

Both are correct. ""congratulatory words"" is more descriptive and functions as an adjective-noun pair, while "words of congratulations" is a slightly more common noun phrase.

What is the difference between "congratulatory words" and "accolades"?

While ""congratulatory words"" refers specifically to language, "accolades" can refer to both words and physical awards or prizes.