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

More than 3,000 morality inspectors have been deployed across the country to enforce the Taliban’s decrees in public spaces and to pressure male family members to ensure women’s compliance within the home. — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

In addition to camera locations being public, Minnesota law requires agencies to undergo a biennial third-party audit to report how the system is being utilized and ensure compliance with requirements such as data retention and user logs. — Tom Olsen, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2026

The Missing Layer is Often Context A compliance system may correctly identify a PEP, an adverse-media reference, a beneficial owner requiring verification or a sanctions alert. — Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026

Without parallel efforts to make schoolwork more engaging and support frustrated students, schools risk mistaking compliance for attention and the absence of a phone for well-being. — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026