complimentary

com·pli·men·ta·ry

adj \ˌkäm-plə-ˈmen-t(ə-)rē\

Definition of COMPLIMENTARY

1

a : expressing praise or admiration : expressing or containing a compliment <a complimentary remark> b : favorable <the novel received complimentary reviews>

2

: given free as a courtesy or favor <complimentary tickets>

— com·pli·men·ta·ri·ly \-ˈmen-t(ə-)rə-lē, -(ˌ)men-ˈter-ə-lē\ adverb

Examples of COMPLIMENTARY

1. She made complimentary remarks about his work.
2. They handed out complimentary brochures.
3. The restaurant offers valet parking as a complimentary service.
4. Furtado is as complimentary about Elliott's manicure … as she is about Elliott's business acumen. —David A. Keeps, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2001
5. In the bar that evening I at last had the Holiday Inn's complimentary drink, “Tropical Aura.” —V. S. Naipaul, Among the Believers, 1981
6. Wilbur had been feeling dizzier and dizzier through this long, complimentary speech. When he heard the crowd begin to cheer and clap again, he suddenly fainted away. —E. B. White, Charlotte's Web, 1952

Origin of COMPLIMENTARY

(see ¹compliment)

First Known Use: 1714

Related to COMPLIMENTARY

Synonyms: admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, favorable, friendly, good, positive

Antonyms: adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly

Related Words: accepting, warm; encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic (also hagiographical), laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful; respectful, supportive, sympathetic; adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping (also worshiping); advisory, recommendatory

Near Antonyms: captious, carping, caviling (or cavilling), censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical; belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with COMPLIMENTARY

complementary, documentary, double entry, elementary, mockumentary, rudimentary, sedimentary, single entry, supplementary, testamentary