Words / C2

k-uh-m-PLAYZ-uh-nt/kəmˈpleɪzənt/

Complaisant means willing to please and go along: a complaisant assistant. Complacent (already in the dictionary) means smugly unworried — the classic mix-up. Compliant is about following rules; complaisant is about pleasing people. Spell the middle -ais-.

Meaning

Willing to please others and go along with their wishes (not the same as complacent, which is smugly unworried).

Examples

• “A complaisant assistant agreed to every change.”
• “A too complaisant board never challenged the numbers.”
• “She was complaisant in meetings and fierce on the page.”

Good to know

complaisant = eager to please. Mix-up: complacent (smug). Rules: compliant.

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