as in gracious
formal
willing or eager to please other people
a complaisant young intern who happily accepted any task
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Recent Examples of complaisant
In this frigid state, electrons become complaisant enough to forgo their usual resistance and flow frictionlessly.
—
Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025
Now, each time is like this, complaisant, Emil pretending to be only half awake.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Every day, Congress and the media stand by in complaisant silence that tells the rest of the world we U.S. citizens cannot be trusted to elect prudent leaders.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
However, Imperial County landowners and complaisant U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials ignored that limit, allowing rapid consolidation of land, says Andrés, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the county’s early years.
—Janet Wilson, ProPublica, 9 Nov. 2023
Last month Ferrari lofted its banners over a resort near the southern port of Cagliari and invited journalists to test-drive the new Ferrari Roma Spider, taking advantage of the excellent tarmac, ideal weather and complaisant authorities.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2023
Overall, the song feels like a deep analysis and reflection on the complaisant position men may take in love and relationships, giving us a track that reams out awful boyfriends and the mindless behavior of their partners who continue to allow them back into their lives to act this way.
—Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 21 May 2022
But Ohio shouldn’t get complaisant.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 8 Apr. 2021
Dan Garisto, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025
Now, each time is like this, complaisant, Emil pretending to be only half awake.
—Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Every day, Congress and the media stand by in complaisant silence that tells the rest of the world we U.S. citizens cannot be trusted to elect prudent leaders.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
However, Imperial County landowners and complaisant U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials ignored that limit, allowing rapid consolidation of land, says Andrés, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the county’s early years.
—Janet Wilson, ProPublica, 9 Nov. 2023
Last month Ferrari lofted its banners over a resort near the southern port of Cagliari and invited journalists to test-drive the new Ferrari Roma Spider, taking advantage of the excellent tarmac, ideal weather and complaisant authorities.
—Dan Neil, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2023
Overall, the song feels like a deep analysis and reflection on the complaisant position men may take in love and relationships, giving us a track that reams out awful boyfriends and the mindless behavior of their partners who continue to allow them back into their lives to act this way.
—Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 21 May 2022
But Ohio shouldn’t get complaisant.
—Julie Washington, cleveland, 8 Apr. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaisant
Adjective
-
According to Cazenave, pathways that feel effortless with furniture not hugging the walls help the room feel immediately more gracious.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
12 Jan. 2026
-
And the sole creator of this life is my gracious friend, the savior who leads me to a new religion, a religion that brings forth a second, new life from deep within me—a life that knows not death!—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Ross records Renee's friendly, smiling face through her open window.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In honor of the long weekend, the section is overflowing with travel-friendly steals, with discounts up to 76 percent off on everything from comfortable shoes and luggage sets to practical travel accessories.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Some parents carefully vetted and chose thoughtful names to add to the birth certificate, while others undoubtedly may have selected them on a whim or as a result of losing a bet.—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Soft, breathable materials and thoughtful construction have made the silhouette way more wearable, offering a happy medium between your comfiest sneakers and your dressiest pumps.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Tucker is believed to be amenable to playing left field to accommodate Soto, and Soto could be amenable to playing left field as well.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
During voir dire, anyone who’s against capital punishment is excused from serving; the law demands that jurors remain amenable to all potential sentences.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Marty Burnett’s agreeable scenic design in Laguna is flanked by a changeable screen which employs Joe Huppert’s original projection designs for the national production, which superimposes changing black and white images of figures and events as Eisenhower addresses them.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Feedback sounds agreeable but thin.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaisant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaisant. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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