as in gracious
formal
willing or eager to please other people
a complaisant young intern who happily accepted any task
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of complaisant
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
In each case, the man has an energetic wife who has continued making public appearances while her husband retreats behind a veil of discretion at which a complaisant press seems reluctant to tug.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2023
Private institutional investors such as BlackRock and Vanguard tend to be more complaisant about CEO pay — except for European funds.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023
His admirers included such luminaries as U.S. Sen. Robert Wagner, all of whom turned a complaisant eye to the married Crater’s other life as a randy stage-door johnny with a mistress and a harem of chorus girls and Polly Adler hookers.
—Edward Kosner, WSJ, 20 June 2022
Administrations since have learned not to be so complaisant.
—WSJ, 20 May 2022
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
In each case, the man has an energetic wife who has continued making public appearances while her husband retreats behind a veil of discretion at which a complaisant press seems reluctant to tug.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2023
Private institutional investors such as BlackRock and Vanguard tend to be more complaisant about CEO pay — except for European funds.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2023
His admirers included such luminaries as U.S. Sen. Robert Wagner, all of whom turned a complaisant eye to the married Crater’s other life as a randy stage-door johnny with a mistress and a harem of chorus girls and Polly Adler hookers.
—Edward Kosner, WSJ, 20 June 2022
Administrations since have learned not to be so complaisant.
—WSJ, 20 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaisant
Adjective
-
To their credit, the Heat have been gracious in their credit to the Panthers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
-
The food was unfussy and full-flavored, the service gracious, and the staff — from the spa therapists to the bakers — seemed genuinely happy to be here.—
Rooksana Hossenally,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
This friendly caller is helping seniors feel less lonely, The Wall Street Journal reports.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
-
This is a guide that is both a friendly flower refresher course for the veteran gardener and a wonderful introduction to flowers for the novice.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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It's been quite a year so this was really such a thoughtful gesture and seriously made my month.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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Beneath the surface of its superlatives lies depth — thoughtful nods to heritage, reinterpretations of tradition and layers of cultural meaning embedded in contemporary forms.—
Natasha Amar,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
For such a waive-and-conversion move to work, Johnson would have to clear waivers and then be amenable to a two-way deal that would halve his salary.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 June 2025
-
This is an apparent reference to the possibility that the White House may be amenable to providing military technology that would allow the Israelis to do damage at Fordow, a key nuclear enrichment site for Iran buried deep within a group of mountains.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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From a very young age, many of us are socialized to prioritize the needs of others—be accommodating, nurturing, and agreeable—while suppressing our own.—
Julia Korn,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
-
Speaking ahead of Haslem, Morris did not have to be as diplomatic and was effusive as the Heat being best for Durant, with the Suns believed to be working with Durant toward a mutually agreeable landing spot.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complaisant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaisant. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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