Complaisant
/kəmˈpleɪzənt/
adjectiveC2
Definition
Complaisant describes someone who is ready to please others and agree with them. This can mean being polite and helpful, but sometimes it also means being too willing to accept what others want, even if it is not the best for oneself.
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See It in Action
Willing to please or help others
- •She was complaisant, always ready to listen and assist her friends.
- •His complaisant nature made him popular among colleagues.
- •The waiter was complaisant, quickly fulfilling every request.
Too ready to agree or accept others’ wishes, sometimes to a fault
- •His complaisant attitude sometimes led him to accept unfair demands.
- •Being complaisant can cause people to lose their own voice in decisions.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "complaisant" like "nice," but with a focus on always wanting to please others, even if it means saying yes too much.
- ✓Picture a person who always nods and smiles, trying to keep everyone happy and avoid conflict.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you don’t want to say no because you want to be liked or keep peace.
- ✓Sounds like "come-PLAY-sent" → imagine someone coming to play and always agreeing to what others say to keep the fun going.
- ✓Think of a helpful friend who always agrees to help, even when they might be tired or busy.
- ✓NOT like "stubborn" (who says no and does their own thing), "complaisant" means saying yes and agreeing easily.
- ✓NOT like "polite" (which is general good manners), "complaisant" is more about always wanting to please or agree.
- ✓NOT like "obedient" (which means following orders), "complaisant" is more about being agreeable and helpful by choice.
Try Other Words
- •Accommodating: willing to help or change plans to please others (Use when focusing on flexibility and helpfulness)
- •Agreeable: pleasant and willing to agree (Use for general friendliness and ease of agreement)
- •Obedient: following orders or rules (Use when emphasizing following commands rather than pleasing)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "com-" (with, together) + "plais" (from French "plaire" meaning to please) + "-ant" (adjective suffix meaning "doing or being")
- •Etymology: From French "complaisant," meaning willing to please or oblige
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 1600s, originally meaning courteous or obliging
- •Modern usage: Often used to describe someone who is very willing to please, sometimes too much, losing their own opinion
Reflect & Connect
•Can being complaisant sometimes cause problems? When might it be good or bad to be complaisant?
•How do you balance being helpful and polite without losing your own voice or needs?
Fill in the blanks
1.A complaisant person often agrees ___ others to avoid ___.
2.Sometimes, being complaisant means saying yes even when you ___.
3.Unlike a stubborn person, a complaisant person usually ___ to others’ wishes.
4.When someone is complaisant, they might ___ requests quickly and without ___.
5.Being complaisant can lead to others taking ___ of your kindness.
6.A complaisant attitude is often seen in people who want to ___ social harmony.
7.If you are too complaisant, you might find it hard to ___ your own opinions.