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complaisancea willingness to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a willingness to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest

Pronunciation (IPA): /kəmˈpleɪzəns/

Korean meaning: 남을 기쁘게 하려는 의지, 순종적인 태도, 아첨

Korean pronunciation: 컴**플레이**전스

Example Sentences

  • The new intern's complaisance was so extreme that he volunteered to organize his boss's sock drawer.
  • Her complaisance in political matters made her seem weak to voters.
  • The teacher mistook the student's complaisance for genuine understanding.

complaisance

NOUN

//kəmˈpleɪzəns//

a willingness to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest

complaisance concept
💡 Concept

a smiling office worker quickly stands up from her own lunch to fetch coffee for a coworker who just pointed at the coffee machine. She abandons her half-eaten sandwich and rushes toward the counter with an eager expression. The demanding coworker sits comfortably while pointing, clearly expecting to be served. Other colleagues around the break room also begin making similar requests, holding up empty cups. The helpful worker nods enthusiastically at each new request, her arms now full of multiple coffee cups and snacks. Her own lunch remains forgotten on the table behind her. a willingness to please others and accept their demands without any protest

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kəmˈpleɪzəns/
🇬🇧 UK/kəmˈpleɪzəns/

🌳Etymology

Prefixcom--
Rootplac
Suffix--ance

Origin

From 17th-century French complaisance, derived from Latin complacere meaning 'to please greatly.' Originally carried the positive sense of eagerness to please others, but gradually developed negative connotations of excessive compliance.

🎵Rhyme

elegancearrogancevigilance
elegance
arrogance
vigilance

🔗Collocations

show complaisance
excessive complaisance
complaisance toward authority
false complaisance
act with complaisance
complaisance and submission

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The new intern's complaisance was so extreme that he volunteered to organize his boss's sock drawer.

Her complaisance in political matters made her seem weak to voters.

The teacher mistook the student's complaisance for genuine understanding.

😄 Fun example

His complaisance at dinner parties was legendary - he'd agree that pineapple pizza was both delicious and disgusting.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

deferencesubmissivenessobsequiousnessservilityacquiescence

Antonyms

defianceresistanceassertiveness

Related

compliancedocilitytractabilitysubservience

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