Complement vs compliment
Complement and compliment can sound the same. A complement goes well with something and makes it complete. A compliment is a kind remark that praises someone.
A complement completes something. Complement and complete both start with comple.
complement verb
To go well with something by adding what it is missing, so the two make a whole.
- The two researchers complement each other, one strong in theory and the other in fieldwork.
- A green salad would complement the pasta nicely.
compliment noun
Kind words that praise someone, congratulate them, or show respect for them.
- He paid her a compliment on her speech, and she blushed.
- The chef thanked us for the compliments on her soup.
Watch out
- Both words are also verbs. Use complement when one thing goes well with another, and compliment when you praise someone.The judges complimented the young pianist on her control of the slow movement.
- Writing compliment when you mean something that goes well with another thing is a misspelling. Use complement, with an e.A crisp white wine is the perfect complement to grilled fish.
- A full complement means the whole number or amount needed, such as all the staff or crew.With a full complement of staff, the clinic could finally open every day.
Test yourself
The blue scarf will blank your gray coat.
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complement. The scarf goes well with the coat, so complement.
Thank you for the blank about my haircut.
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compliment. These are kind words of praise, so compliment.
The teacher wanted to blank the class on their hard work.
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compliment. The teacher is praising the class, so compliment.
The ship sailed with a full blank of sailors.
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complement. Complement means the full number of crew needed.
Full entries: complementcompliment