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
-
Next on the line is a woman who is more gracious to Kendrick, but didn’t seem to get the memo that the East Coast-West Coast rivalry ended decades ago.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
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Just like the trains themselves, these glamorous culinary experiences are reminiscent of the golden era of travel, with gracious table-settings, intricate confections, and a leisurely, unhurried pace.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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While not all offices or remote cultures may support a ‘bring your pet to work day,’ there are some easy ways to create a more pet-friendly culture that drives a sense of belonging and increases organizational reputation.—
Marissa Andrada,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Host a Pottery or Clay Night Air-dry or oven-bake clay is beginner-friendly and perfect for a cozy craft night.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And thanks to a thoughtful renovation, this particular farmhouse is ready to begin its next chapter.—
Miriam Schwartz,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
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In his view, growth means extending the reach of a thoughtful approach while preserving the personal relationships that define his work.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Figure skating fans rooting for Sabaté to skate as a Minion might assume that since NBCUniversal broadcasts the Winter Olympics in the US, the company would be more amenable to having the Minions, stars of one of its successful franchises, appear on ice.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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And then also replacing those lawyers with more amenable actors.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With a lockout threatening the 2027 season, McCutchen almost certainly would be agreeable.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Complaisant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaisant. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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