complaisant
complaisant
Pronunciation
/kəmˈpleɪzənt/
com: /kəm/
/k/ as in "cat"
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
/m/ as in "man"
plai: /pleɪ/
/p/ as in "pat"
/l/ as in "lap"
/eɪ/ as in "face" (diphthong)
sant: /zənt/
/z/ as in "zoo"
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
/n/ as in "nap"
/t/ as in "top"
Word Form Variations
"Complaisant" itself doesn't have typical singular/plural variations like nouns do. It's an adjective. However, related forms exist:
complaisance: This is the noun form, referring to the quality of being complaisant. It's an uncountable noun, so it doesn't have a plural.
complaisantly: This is the adverb form, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective:
Complaisant: Willing or eager to please others; overly polite or compliant; tending to agree with others or accept what they do without protest. Sometimes implies a degree of excessive eagerness to please, even to the point of sacrificing one's own principles or comfort.
Synonyms: accommodating, obliging, agreeable, yielding, docile, deferential, biddable, ingratiating, fawning (more negative connotation)
Antonyms: uncooperative, unaccommodating, disobliging, resistant, defiant, assertive, independent, stubborn, obstinate
Noun:
Complaisance: The quality of being complaisant; a disposition to please or oblige others.
Synonyms: willingness, obligingness, agreeableness, docility, deference, accommodation, compliance, amenability
Antonyms: unwillingness, resistance, defiance, obstinacy, independence, assertiveness, noncompliance
Adverb:
Complaisantly: In a complaisant manner; willingly and agreeably.
Synonyms: obligingly, agreeably, readily, willingly, accommodatingly, deferentially
Antonyms: unwillingly, reluctantly, begrudgingly, defiantly, resistantly, independently
There is no verb form of "complaisant." You wouldn't say someone "complaisants" something. You might say they "try to please" or "accommodate."
Examples of Use
Literature:
"He was, by nature, a complaisant man, always ready to agree with whatever was proposed." (This is a fictional example, but it illustrates the typical use of the adjective.) You'll find similar uses in many novels where character descriptions are provided. Because "complaisant" is a somewhat sophisticated word, it's more likely to appear in literary fiction than in, say, genre fiction.
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The government's complaisance towards the corporation has raised concerns about regulatory capture." (This example uses the noun form and is typical of how it might be used in a news context, suggesting perhaps too much willingness to cooperate.) Finding specific real-world examples from news articles requires searching news databases, but this illustrates the general context.
Entertainment/Platforms:
"The talk show host was criticized for being too complaisant with the celebrity guest, failing to ask any challenging questions." (This is a hypothetical example of how the word might be used in a discussion about media. Again, real examples would require searching transcripts or reviews.) Discussions about celebrity interviews or political discourse often use words like "complaisant."
General Public Discourse:
"He's so complaisant; he'll do anything you ask." (This is a common way the adjective is used in everyday conversation, often with a slightly negative connotation, implying the person might be too eager to please.)
"Her complaisance made her a popular employee, but some colleagues felt she lacked the assertiveness to lead." (This example shows how the noun is used in discussing workplace dynamics.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Complaisant
“Voltaire warned that a complaisant society risks trading its liberty for applause.”
“My mentor said never be so complaisant that you forget what you truly desire.”
“A leader who grows complaisant loses the very edge that once set them apart.”
“History turns against the complaisant, for progress has no patience for comfort.”
“The poet wrote that love is gentle, not complaisant—it nurtures without numbing the spirit.”
“To be complaisant with injustice is to become its silent architect.”
“Success becomes dangerous when it makes us complaisant instead of curious.”
“A complaisant mind repeats; a courageous one reimagines.”
“Even the faithful must guard against becoming complaisant, mistaking routine for reverence.”
“My grandmother said a complaisant heart grows quiet dreams, but a bold one wakes them.”
Etymology
Origin: "Complaisant" comes from the Latin word "complacere," which means "to please greatly."
Breakdown: "Complacere" itself is a combination of:
"com-," meaning "completely" or "thoroughly" (think of "combine" or "complete").
"placere," meaning "to please" (think of "placid" or "pleasure").
French Connection: The word traveled from Latin into French as "complaisant," retaining the meaning of "pleasing" or "obliging.
English Adoption: English borrowed the word from French, and it first appeared in written English around the mid-17th century (likely the 1640s or 1650s). Its initial meaning in English was very similar to its French meaning: willing to please or oblige; agreeable.
So, essentially, "complaisant" has a root meaning tied to the idea of thoroughly pleasing someone. Over time, it has kept this core meaning, but has also developed a slightly more nuanced connotation, sometimes implying an excessive or even ingratiating willingness to please.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Complaisant
"Complaisant" and its related forms ("complaisance," "complaisantly") are not commonly found in established English idioms or fixed phrases. This is likely because:
Formal Register: The word tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts, where idioms are less frequent.
Specific Nuance: The word carries a specific nuance (willingness to please, sometimes to a fault) that doesn't easily lend itself to broader, figurative expressions.
Therefore, while there aren't common idioms using "complaisant," we can explore how the concept might be expressed, and create some illustrative examples.
Illustrative Phrases (Not Idioms):
"A complaisant attitude": This describes someone who is generally agreeable and tries to please others.
"Complaisant to a fault": This highlights the potentially negative aspect of being too willing to please.
"With complaisant agreement": This describes someone agreeing readily and willingly.
"A show of complaisance": This refers to an outward display of willingness to please.
Conceptual Equivalents (Using Synonyms):
Since there are no "complaisant" idioms, we can look at idioms and phrases that express similar ideas:
"To bend over backwards": This means to go to great lengths to please someone, sometimes excessively.
"To be a yes-man/yes-woman": This describes someone who agrees with everything their superior says, often without thinking critically.
"To go along with the crowd": This describes someone who conforms to the opinions or actions of others, perhaps out of a desire to please or avoid conflict.
"To keep the peace": While not always negative, this can sometimes imply being complaisant to avoid upsetting others.
Original Phrases (Illustrative):
"Complaisance is a double-edged sword": This suggests that while being agreeable can be positive, it can also be a weakness.
"The complaisant smile hid a calculating mind": This illustrates how complaisance can sometimes be deceptive.
"Complaisance bought him favor, but cost him respect": This highlights the potential trade-offs of being overly agreeable.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of complaisant from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
