Word: complaisant (adjective)

Associations

"Complaisant" means willing to please others or to agree with what they want. It often has a polite or agreeable tone, but sometimes it can suggest someone is too eager to please, maybe even to a fault.

• Example 1: She was complaisant with her boss’s requests, always ready to help. This shows she is agreeable and cooperative.
• Example 2: His complaisant attitude made him popular among his friends because he rarely argued.
• Example 3: The complaisant waiter quickly fulfilled all the customers’ wishes, making their dining experience pleasant. A well-known synonym is "compliant," but "compliant" often implies obeying rules or orders, sometimes reluctantly, while "complaisant" suggests a more willing and pleasant readiness to please.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• agreeable (similar meaning, but more general)
• accommodating (focuses on being helpful and flexible)
• obliging (suggests kindness and readiness to help)
• compliant (more about following rules or orders) Changing the word changes the tone: "accommodating" sounds more active, "compliant" can sound less willing.

Deconstruction

"Complaisant" comes from French "complaisant," from the verb "complaire" meaning "to please."

• Prefix: "com-" means "with" or "together"
• Root: "plais" relates to "please"
• Suffix: "-ant" is an adjective ending meaning "tending to" or "characterized by" So, "complaisant" literally means "tending to please."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when being complaisant helped you in a situation?
• How is being complaisant different from being stubborn or firm?
• Do you think being too complaisant can ever be a problem? Why or why not?