compliment
8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for compliment, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A remark expressing praise, admiration or approval of someone or something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A remark expressing praise, admiration or approval of someone or something.
“He paid her a compliment on her cooking.”
Opposites
How to use compliment
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral in all contexts; the greetings sense is formal and slightly old-fashioned.
Etymology
From French compliment, ultimately from Latin complere "to fill up, complete", by way of Spanish and Italian words for an act of courtesy.
Full origin of compliment →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between compliment and complement?
A compliment is a kind word of praise; to compliment someone is to praise them. A complement is something that completes or goes well with another thing, as a scarf complements a coat. Remember that compliment with an i means "I like it".
What does "with our compliments" mean?
It means the item is given free as a courtesy — the sense behind the word complimentary. A restaurant offering dessert "with our compliments" is not charging for it.
Is complimentary the same as complementary?
No. Complimentary means either praising ("a complimentary review") or free of charge ("complimentary breakfast"). Complementary means two things fit well together, as in complementary colours or complementary skills.