Definition of complementarynext
as in supplementary
related to each other in such a way that one completes the other the complementary contributions of the cooking and cleanup committees were essential to the success of the church barbecue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complementary The organization positions its programs as complementary to Western medical care, not a replacement for it. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026 Equally complementary are scenes of contemporary Mexican rodeos captured by Juan Fuentes and Amanda Lopez. Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026 Eating grapefruit and pomegranate together offers complementary nutrients and broader antioxidant protection. Jillian Kubala, Health, 18 May 2026 Daily complementary fitness classes are offered, such as sunrise yoga, mat pilates, and Tropical Flex & Flow. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for complementary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complementary
Adjective
  • Follow the example of Sylvia Meagher, a divorcée who spent much of 1965 making an index for the twenty-six supplementary volumes of the Warren Report from her West Village apartment, taking a fine-tooth comb to eighteen thousand pages of hearings and exhibits about the JFK assassination.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
  • Wright cites Nigeria's $200 million supplementary health budget and South Africa's decision to help cover gaps in AIDS and HIV treatment as two examples.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • Manzo was politically forged by the cartels’ appalling displays of violence and looked to stamp it out with reciprocal displays of force against the crime organizations.
    Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
  • People are also more likely to open up about their feelings and gravitate toward relationships that feel emotionally reciprocal.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • The collaboration is their mutual love letter to growing up in post-war Britain without a lot of privilege but with a lot of help from their school buddies.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026
  • Due to the size of the crowd, mutual aid assistance was requested, and the crowd eventually overwhelmed the barricades and surged through the mall toward the entrance to the Swatch store, police said.
    Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complementary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complementary. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on complementary

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster