Synonyms of complaisant

complaisant

adjective

as in gracious

formal willing or eager to please other people

a complaisant young intern who happily accepted any task

Related Words

• gracious
• friendly
• thoughtful
• amenable
• agreeable
• helpful
• accommodative
• obliging
• solicitous
• indulgent
• accommodating
• considerate
• lenient
• permissive
• overindulgent

Synonym Chooser

How is the word complaisant distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of complaisant are amiable, good-natured, and obliging. While all these words mean "having the desire or disposition to please," complaisant often implies passivity or a yielding to others because of weakness.

was too complaisant to protest a decision he thought unfair

In what contexts can amiable take the place of complaisant?

The words amiable and complaisant can be used in similar contexts, but amiable implies having qualities that make one liked and easy to deal with.

an amiable teacher not easily annoyed

When could good-natured be used to replace complaisant?

The meanings of good-natured and complaisant largely overlap; however, good-natured implies cheerfulness or helpfulness and sometimes a willingness to be imposed upon.

a good-natured girl who was always willing to pitch in

When can obliging be used instead of complaisant?

The words obliging and complaisant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, obliging stresses a friendly readiness to be helpful.

our obliging innkeeper found us a bigger room

Example Sentences

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

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