self-congratulation

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Act of praising oneself: "self-congratulation" refers to the action of expressing pride or satisfaction in one's own achievements, often in a way that seems smug or excessive.
    • Complacent self-praise: It can also denote an attitude of undue satisfaction with one's own accomplishments, sometimes implying a lack of humility.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • His speech was filled with self-congratulation after winning the award. (He praised himself excessively for his success.)
    • The memo was less about progress and more about self-congratulation. (The document focused on praising the author's own work rather than reporting facts.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to engage in self-congratulation": to actively praise oneself, often in a public or noticeable way.

    • The team engaged in self-congratulation after the project was completed, ignoring the contributions of others. (They celebrated their own role too much.)

  • "a moment of self-congratulation": a brief period where one feels proud of oneself.

    • She allowed herself a moment of self-congratulation before moving on to the next task. (She briefly acknowledged her own success.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Self-congratulatory (adj): expressing or characterized by self-congratulation.

    • His self-congratulatory tone annoyed his colleagues. (His tone showed he was praising himself too much.)

  • Self-congratulating (verb form): the act of congratulating oneself.

    • He was self-congratulating all evening about his promotion. (He kept praising himself for the promotion.)
Synonyms
  • Self-praise: the act of praising oneself.
  • Self-admiration: excessive admiration for oneself.
  • Complacency: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself.
Antonyms
  • Self-deprecation: the act of criticizing or undervaluing oneself.
  • Humility: a modest or low view of one's own importance.
Related Idioms

  • Pat oneself on the back: to praise oneself for an achievement.

    • After finishing the marathon, he patted himself on the back for months. (He engaged in self-congratulation for a long time.)

  • Blow one's own trumpet: to boast about one's own accomplishments.

    • She is always blowing her own trumpet, but this time the self-congratulation was justified. (She is often boastful, and this instance of self-praise was appropriate.)