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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

complaisant

Adjective

IPA /kəmˈpleɪzənt/

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Meaning in plain English

Willing to please other people and fit in with their wishes.

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Pronunciation

complaisant/kəmˈpleɪzənt/

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  1. A host suggests an activity

  2. The guest willingly agrees

A complaisant person tries to please and accommodate others.

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  1. He was a complaisant guest who accepted every suggestion.
  2. The novel presents the assistant as unusually complaisant towards his demanding employer.

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He was a ________ guest who accepted every suggestion.
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complaisant — Willing to please other people and fit in with their wishes.

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Willing to please other people and fit in with their wishes.

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Word origin

From French complaisant, related to complaire, meaning to please or accommodate.

Did you know?

A complaisant manner suggests a readiness to agree and be accommodating.

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complaisant

/kəmˈpleɪzənt/ (Adjective)

“Old-fashioned: accommodating is more usual today. Do not confuse complaisant with complacent, meaning too self-satisfied.”

englishskillstudio.com