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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaisant
Adjective
-
In almost all respects, Masako—true to her breeding—was the very model of a modest and gracious ojōsan.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
-
While people are generally gracious about missteps, recent surges in tourist numbers are starting to strain that vaunted hospitality.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The show serves as a friendly frame for the songs without threatening to get in the way of them.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Time-traveling romances, space-traveling alien monsters, and celebrities in seriously great shape who want to pass along their wisdom to us normal folk — all this and more await us in this weekend’s friendly neighborhood streaming guide.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
These aren’t edge cases but increasingly common scenarios requiring thoughtful, human-centric design.—
Anuradha Gupta,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
An artistic 14-year-old boy known for his thoughtful nature drowned just weeks before starting high school, Michigan officials say.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Restaurant managers are usually familiar with their acoustic systems and should be able to say whether their atmospheres are amenable to conversation.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Aug. 2025
-
And though Voight is reportedly amenable, there are no guarantees.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Women are raised to be agreeable, charitable, and modest.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
In defending the lawsuit, the deputy city attorney found that Ocean Industries, the original developer’s successor company, still owns two parcels and is agreeable to terminating the use restrictions, subject to City Council approval.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complaisant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaisant. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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