Synonyms of compliance

compliance

noun

kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s 

1

as in obedience

a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others

a strong-willed pop star who is not known for her compliance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obedience
• compliancy
• acquiescence
• deference
• submissiveness
• assent
• docility
• biddability
• humoring
• acceptance
• consent
• subservience
• conformity
• complaisance
• receptivity
• receptiveness
• surrender
• servility
• obsequiousness
• subserviency
• slavishness
• amenability
• amiability
• friendliness
• submission
• capitulation
• cooperativeness
• indulgence
• sociability
• cordiality
• affability
• geniality
• good-naturedness
• congeniality
• amicability

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• defiance
• disobedience
• hostility
• recalcitrance
• intractability
• animosity
• enmity
• ill will
• antipathy

2

as in submission

a bending to the authority or control of another

an administrator who demands prompt and unquestioning compliance from subordinates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obedience
• submission
• conformity
• subordination
• surrender
• submissiveness
• acquiescence
• discipline
• tractability
• capitulation
• suppression
• amenability
• deference
• agreeability
• subservience
• yielding
• obeisance
• repression
• restraint
• obsequiousness
• docility
• humility
• dutifulness
• meekness
• trainability
• modesty
• abidance
• inhibition
• subserviency
• servility
• control
• teachableness
• tractableness
• order
• slavishness
• subordinateness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noncompliance
• disobedience
• rebellion
• defiance
• insubordination
• recalcitrance
• willfulness
• refractoriness
• intractability
• contumacy
• rebelliousness
• unruliness
• waywardness
• noncooperation
• contrariness
• self-will
• revolt
• disrespect
• outbreak
• insurrection
• recusancy
• insolence
• rudeness
• impudence
• insurgency
• mutiny
• balkiness
• obstreperousness
• frowardness
• perversity
• obstinacy
• stubbornness
• rebelling
• misbehavior
• insurgence
• dissent
• pigheadedness
• naughtiness
• hardheadedness
• mischievousness
• dissidence
• mulishness
• obstinateness
• mutinousness

3

as in adherence

the following of a custom, rule, or law

compliance with the statute was far from universal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adherence
• conformance
• conformity
• observation
• observance
• obedience
• keeping
• abidance
• respect
• deference
• acquiescence
• submission
• surrender
• regard
• attendance
• upholding
• accession
• attention
• honor
• heed
• notice

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• violation
• breach
• infringement
• infraction
• contravention
• transgression
• trespass
• disregard
• ignoring
• neglect
• delinquency
• nonobservance
• forgetting
• offense
• challenge
• sin
• dereliction
• defiance
• rebellion
• wrong
• brush-off
• overlooking
• flouting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of compliance

The capability enterprises fear most becomes a compliance obligation. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

The process can take up to two years, involving registration, facility certification, cybersecurity compliance, and other critical steps to qualify for defense contracts. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 8 Aug. 2026

Judge Martinez-Olguin echoed those concerns in her ruling, noting that the new legal services agreements appeared to cover only a fraction of the services needed and failed to explain how compliance would be monitored. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

The nine-county northern Front Range region — Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties — has been out of compliance with federal ozone standards for 17 years. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2026