complaisance
Americannoun
-
deference to the wishes of others; willing compliance
-
an act of willing compliance
Other Word Forms
- noncomplaisance noun
- uncomplaisance noun
Etymology
Origin of complaisance
From French, dating back to 1645–55; see origin at complaisant, -ance
Explanation
Complaisance is a quality of being eager to please or happy to follow instructions. Your new puppy's complaisance is going to make her easy to train. This characteristic is usually positive — think of a happy preschool teacher with a class of cheerful students whose complaisance keeps them sitting eagerly in a circle, listening to a story. Sometimes, however, the word is used for people who unthinkingly follow directions to their detriment: "The students' complaisance means they keep eating those terrible school lunches without ever questioning why there aren't more fresh fruits and vegetables."
Vocabulary lists containing complaisance
Pride and Prejudice
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GRE Verbal Reasoning, List 3
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The Prince and The Pauper
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Or maybe the way to think about it is that she right-sized her career, away from the silly and grim expectations of complaisance that come with universal acclaim and toward a more earnest plane.
From New York Times • Jul. 26, 2023
As to whether there are hellraisers now, well, of course there are, although the eco-system of deference, naivety about alcoholism, press complaisance and tolerance of male behaviour has worn away.
From The Guardian • Jul. 11, 2019
There are more emphatic reasons for the market’s complaisance.
From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2016
There are many reasons for the relative complaisance of fans who chant "red army" as they ascend the steps to the Emirates Stadium.
From The Guardian • Apr. 11, 2011
“He is, indeed—but, considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?”
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
