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
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
Administrations since have learned not to be so complaisant.
—WSJ, 20 May 2022
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
Administrations since have learned not to be so complaisant.
—WSJ, 20 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaisant
Adjective
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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ohtani is back in Japan and that puts an even bigger grin on these gracious locals.—
Jay Paris,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 2025
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There's a little sprinkled throughout, but these all-stars are by and large gracious and amiable.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There is a legacy out there of bad harvests and tough winters that by some alchemy brings out the best in people, reminds them to be friendly and kind, and put others first.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2025
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The doorman is very friendly and asks if there’s a party going on.—
Devan Díaz,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Searching for a thoughtful gift for your mother-in-law who has everything?—
Brie Schwartz,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2025
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The thoughtful renovation opened a new chapter for a mother and her three kids.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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President Trump has been amenable to Libertarian concerns.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2025
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Though the Post was amenable to publishing the inside ad, Common Cause told the paper to forget it and walked away.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But constantly holding back or being overly agreeable can have real consequences.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
5 Mar. 2025
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Yet Sunday's Oscars managed to be an agreeable experience for all.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to complaisant
Cite this Entry
“Complaisant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaisant. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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