Word: compliant (adjective)

Associations

The word "compliant" means willing to agree or follow rules, requests, or demands. It often describes a person, group, or thing that obeys or adapts easily.

• In a workplace: "The employee was compliant with the new safety regulations." This means the employee followed the rules.
• In technology: "The software is compliant with industry standards." This means the software meets the required rules.
• In social behavior: "She is compliant when asked to help." This means she agrees and cooperates.

Synonym: "obedient."
Difference: "Obedient" is usually about following orders from a person, often authority, while "compliant" can be about following rules, laws, or conditions, not just orders.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• obedient (more about following orders from a person)
• agreeable (more about being pleasant and willing)
• submissive (more about giving in, sometimes with less power)
• conforming (more about matching rules or standards)

Each word changes the tone. For example, "submissive" can sound negative, but "compliant" is neutral or positive.

Deconstruction

"Compliant" comes from the verb "comply," which means to follow or obey.

• Prefix: "com-" means "with" or "together."
• Root: "ply" comes from Latin "plicare," meaning "to fold" or "to bend."
• Suffix: "-ant" means "having the quality of."

So, "compliant" literally means "having the quality of bending or yielding with."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you were compliant with a rule or request? How did it feel?
• Is being compliant always good, or can it sometimes be bad? Why?
• How would you describe someone who is not compliant? What words would you use?