Compliment vs. Complement: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A compliment is a polite expression of praise or admiration, whereas a complement is something that completes or goes well with something.
Key Differences
A compliment is an expression of praise, admiration, or flattery, often verbal. Complement refers to something that enhances or completes another thing, often by adding qualities the other lacks.
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Nov 21, 2023
When you compliment someone, you are acknowledging their positive attributes or achievements. Complementing something means adding to it in a way that enhances its overall quality or effectiveness.
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Nov 21, 2023
Compliments are a part of social interactions, used to express approval or appreciation. Complements, however, are about compatibility and enhancement in various contexts, such as design, taste, or functionality.
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Nov 21, 2023
While a compliment boosts someone’s mood or self-esteem, a complement enhances or perfects something, like a piece of art or a meal.
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Nov 21, 2023
Compliments can be given to people or about objects and actions, focusing on positive qualities. Complements are about creating a sense of completeness, often through combining different elements that work well together.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A polite expression of praise or admiration.
Something that completes or enhances another.
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Nov 21, 2023
Usage in a Sentence
"He received a compliment on his eloquent speech."
"The wine was a perfect complement to the cheese."
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Nov 21, 2023
Context
Social interactions, expressing approval.
Adding qualities to enhance or complete.
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Nov 21, 2023
Examples
Compliments on appearance, work, achievements.
Complements in fashion, food, art.
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Nov 21, 2023
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Compliment and Complement Definitions
Compliment
An act or circumstance that implies praise.
Being asked for advice was a compliment to her expertise.
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Nov 16, 2023
Complement
Something that completes or makes perfect.
The scarf is the perfect complement to her outfit.
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Nov 16, 2023
Compliment
An expression of respect or esteem.
The teacher's compliment on his essay made him proud.
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Nov 16, 2023
Complement
A thing that adds features that improve something.
The new software is a complement to the existing system.
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Complement
A quantity or amount that completes anything.
The evening course is a complement to her daytime job.
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Nov 16, 2023
Complement
One of two contrasting or matching parts.
Salt and pepper are complements in many recipes.
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Nov 16, 2023
Compliment
Compliments Good wishes; regards
Extend my compliments to your parents. See Usage Note at complement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Something that completes, makes up a whole, or brings to perfection
A sauce that is a fine complement to fish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
The quantity or number needed to make up a whole
Shelves with a full complement of books.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
To show fondness, regard, or respect for by giving a gift or performing a favor.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
An expression of praise, congratulation, or respect.
Pay someone a compliment
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Either of two parts that complete the whole or mutually complete each other.
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Complement
An angle related to another so that the sum of their measures is 90°.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(Grammar) A word or words used to complete a predicate construction, especially the object or indirect object of a verb, for example, the phrase to eat ice cream in We like to eat ice cream.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
(ambitransitive) To pay a compliment (to someone); to express a favourable opinion (of someone).
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(Music) An interval that completes an octave when added to a given interval.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(Immunology) A complex system of proteins found in blood plasma that are sequentially activated and play various roles in the immune response, including lysing bacterial cell membranes, making pathogens more susceptible to phagocytes, and recruiting inflammatory cells to sites of infection or injury. Also called alexin.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard, confidence, civility, or admiration; a flattering speech or attention; a ceremonious greeting; as, to send one's compliments to a friend.
Tedious waste of time, to sit and hearSo many hollow compliments and lies.
Many a compliment politely penned.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Mathematics & Logic For a universal set, the set of all elements in the set that are not in a specified subset.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation, respect, or congratulation; to make or pay a compliment to.
Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . . Should compliment their foes and shun their friends.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of respect.
I make the interlocutors, upon occasion, compliment with one another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
To serve as a complement to
Roses in a silver bowl complement the handsome cherry table.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
Say something to someone that expresses praise;
He complimented her on her last physics paper
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(obsolete) The act of completing something, or the fact of being complete; completion, completeness, fulfilment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
The totality, the full amount or number which completes something.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
An expression of praise or admiration.
She received a compliment on her new dress.
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Nov 16, 2023
Complement
(obsolete) Something which completes one's equipment, dress etc.; an accessory.
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Oct 19, 2023
Compliment
A polite expression of approval.
His boss paid him a compliment for his hard work.
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Nov 16, 2023
Compliment
Flattery intended to ingratiate oneself.
He gave a compliment to impress his date.
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Nov 16, 2023
Complement
An angle which, together with a given angle, makes a right angle.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Something which completes, something which combines with something else to make up a complete whole; loosely, something perceived to be a harmonious or desirable partner or addition.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
A word or group of words that completes a grammatical construction in the predicate and that describes or is identified with the subject or object.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(music) An interval which, together with the given interval, makes an octave.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(optics) The color which, when mixed with the given color, gives black (for mixing pigments) or white (for mixing light).
The complement of blue is orange.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(set theory) Given two sets, the set containing one set's elements that are not members of the other set (whether a relative complement or an absolute complement).
The complement of the odd numbers is the even numbers, relative to the natural numbers.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(immunology) One of several blood proteins that work with antibodies during an immune response.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(logic) An expression related to some other expression such that it is true under the same conditions that make other false, and vice versa.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(electronics) A voltage level with the opposite logical sense to the given one.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(computing) A bit with the opposite value to the given one; the logical complement of a number.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
The diminished radix complement of a number; the nines' complement of a decimal number; the ones' complement of a binary number.
The complement of is .
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
The radix complement of a number; the two's complement of a binary number.
The complement of is .
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
The numeric complement of a number.
The complement of −123 is 123.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
(genetics) A nucleotide sequence in which each base is replaced by the complementary base of the given sequence: adenine (A) by thymine (T) or uracil (U), cytosine (C) by guanine (G), and vice versa.
A DNA molecule is formed from two strands, each of which is the complement of the other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Obsolete spelling or misspelling of compliment. should this be at a different ety?
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
To complete, to bring to perfection, to make whole.
We believe your addition will complement the team.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
To provide what the partner lacks and lack what the partner provides, thus forming part of a whole.
The flavors of the pepper and garlic complement each other, giving a very rich taste in combination.
I believe our talents really complement each other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole.
History is the complement of poetry.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness.
To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
A second quantity added to a given quantity to make it equal to a third given quantity.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Something added for ornamentation; an accessory.
Without vain art or curious complements.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
The interval wanting to complete the octave; - the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Number needed to make up whole force;
A full complement of workers
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Complement
Something added to complete or make perfect;
A fine wine is a perfect complement to the dinner
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
One of a series of enzymes in the blood serum that are part of the immune response
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Make complete or perfect; supply what is wanting or form the complement to;
I need some pepper to complement the sweet touch in the soup
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Oct 19, 2023
Complement
Enhancing or emphasizing the qualities of another.
His calm demeanor is a good complement to her energetic personality.
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Nov 16, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can compliment be used as a verb?
Yes, you can compliment someone by expressing admiration.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can compliments be negative?
Compliments are generally positive; backhanded compliments may seem negative.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are compliments always verbal?
Compliments are often verbal but can also be conveyed through actions or gestures.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does complement refer to quantity?
Complement can refer to a quantity that completes something.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can a compliment be about someone's character?
Yes, compliments can be about both physical attributes and character traits.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can compliments be formal?
Compliments can be both formal and informal, depending on the context.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is complement used to describe compatibility?
Yes, complement is often used to describe things that are compatible or enhance each other.
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Nov 21, 2023
Do compliments have to be sincere?
Ideally, compliments should be sincere, though sometimes they may be given out of politeness.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is complement related to mathematics?
Yes, complement is used in mathematics to denote a complete set or pairing.
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Nov 21, 2023
Does complement imply improvement?
Yes, a complement often implies that something is improved or enhanced.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can two people complement each other?
Yes, people can complement each other in terms of skills, personalities, etc.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are complements always tangible?
Complements can be tangible or intangible, such as skills complementing each other.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can complement be used in cooking?
Yes, complement is used in cooking to describe ingredients that enhance each other.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can complement be used in scientific contexts?
Yes, complement is used in various fields, including science, to denote completeness or enhancement.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is complement used in fashion?
Yes, complement is often used in fashion to describe accessories or elements that enhance an outfit.
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Nov 21, 2023
Do compliments always have to be about appearance?
No, compliments can be about any aspect, not just appearance.
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Nov 21, 2023
Are backhanded compliments truly compliments?
Backhanded compliments are often seen as insincere or passive-aggressive.
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Nov 21, 2023
Can you compliment a group?
Yes, you can compliment a group on their collective efforts or achievements.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is complement used in art?
Yes, complement is used in art to describe elements that enhance the overall composition.
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Nov 21, 2023
Is complimenting a common social practice?
Yes, giving compliments is a common and socially encouraged practice.
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Nov 21, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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