Complement vs Compliment - What's the Difference?

Meaning

Pronunciation

Word Class (Verb / Noun)

Grammar

Common Uses

Literal Meaning

Figurative Meaning

American English Usage

Typical Sentence Patterns

Common Collocations

Meaning

Pronunciation

Word Class (Verb / Noun)

Grammar

Common Uses

Literal Meaning

Figurative Meaning

American English Usage

Typical Sentence Patterns

Common Collocations

Grammar Rules & Mechanics

Understanding the specific grammatical mechanics of verbs and adjectives is the key to never confusing these two words again.

Expressions with "Complement"

Expressions with "Compliment"

Collocations

Idioms

Easy

1. The red wine complements the steak.
2. She gave me a nice compliment.
3. That scarf complements your eyes.
4. I complimented him on his new car.
5. The two flavors complement each other.
6. He paid me a compliment today.
7. The blue rug complements the room.
8. The hotel gave us a complimentary breakfast.
9. Their skills complement each other.
10. She likes to fish for compliments.
11. The sauce complements the dish.
12. I received a compliment on my dress.
13. These colors complement well.
14. The waiter brought free dessert, compliments of the house.
15. His patience complements her energy.
16. Please accept my compliments.
17. The pillows complement the sofa.
18. She complimented the chef on the soup.
19. A 30-degree and 60-degree angle are complements.
20. He gave me a backhanded compliment.

Intermediate

1. The tart cranberry sauce perfectly complements the savory turkey.
2. The manager complimented the team on finishing the project early.
3. The blue curtains complement the gray walls beautifully.
4. I must return the compliment and invite her to my dinner party.
5. Her creative vision and his analytical mind complement each other perfectly.
6. The hotel offered a complimentary breakfast to all its guests.
7. Guests complimented the chef on the exquisite three-course meal.
8. That pearl necklace will complement your black dress nicely.
9. He tried to compliment the judge, hoping it would influence the contest.
10. The new software update complements our existing hardware perfectly.
11. The critic complimented the lead actor's emotional performance.
12. In high school geometry, we learned how to calculate complementary angles.
13. Saying I am smart for a junior was a backhanded compliment.
14. The vintage mirror complements the decor of the hallway.
15. She returned the compliment by praising his excellent taste in music.
16. The illustrations beautifully complement the text.
17. The fans showered the pop star with compliments after the show.
18. The rustic furniture complements the cabin's style.
19. The theater gave us two complimentary tickets because of the delay.
20. The spicy sauce complements the bland rice.

Advanced

1. The geopolitical strategy relies on forming alliances with complementary economies.
2. The ambassador paid the foreign minister a subtle compliment to ease diplomatic tensions.
3. The architectural anomaly surprisingly complements the otherwise brutalist aesthetic of the plaza.
4. The literary critic complimented the author on their masterful use of allegory.
5. The candidate's populist rhetoric complements the current mood of the disenfranchised electorate.
6. The philanthropist was showered with compliments after donating millions to the university.
7. The symphony's dissonant opening perfectly complements its triumphant crescendo.
8. The CEO's remarks were highly complimentary of the board's decision to expand.
9. The investor's aggressive strategy complements the firm's traditionally conservative portfolio.
10. The professor paid the student a left-handed compliment regarding her 'surprisingly coherent' thesis.
11. The botanical garden's layout complements the natural topography of the valley.
12. The renowned chef sent his compliments to the table after the successful tasting menu.
13. The protagonist's quiet stoicism complements the antagonist's erratic volatility.
14. The company offered complimentary upgrades to appease the disgruntled passengers.
15. The horticulturist explained how the complementary colors of the flowers attract specific pollinators.
16. The manager paid the intern a backhanded compliment, calling her 'ambitious for someone so inexperienced'.
17. The historical artifact is a perfect complement to the museum's medieval collection.
18. The maestro complimented the soloist on her flawless intonation during the concerto.
19. The therapist noted that the couple's complementary neuroses were the root of their marital conflict.
20. The review was glowing, showering the director with compliments for his cinematic vision.

Academic

1. The empirical data complements the theoretical framework established by prior researchers.
2. The peer review was highly complimentary of the study's methodological rigor.
3. In generative grammar, a subject complement follows a copular verb to identify the subject.
4. The dissertation committee complimented the candidate on her exhaustive literature review.
5. The sociological study shows how complementary roles within a household reduce domestic conflict.
6. The visiting scholar paid the university a compliment by praising its archival facilities.
7. The enzymatic reactions are a perfect complement to the cellular respiration pathway.
8. The critic's essay complimented the author's ability to intertwine post-modern themes.
9. The archaeological findings complement the historical accounts of the Bronze Age.
10. The valedictorian paid the faculty a heartfelt compliment during her commencement speech.
11. The mathematical proof demonstrates that the two angles are complements.
12. The professor complimented the student on his innovative approach to quantum mechanics.
13. The philosophical treatise complements the ethical theories of Immanuel Kant.
14. The journal editor sent her compliments to the author for a flawlessly formatted manuscript.
15. The linguistic variations complement the anthropological data on migration.
16. The historian complimented the archivist on the meticulous preservation of the documents.
17. The ecological model relies on complementary relationships between predator and prey.
18. The keynote speaker paid the university a compliment by noting its academic prestige.
19. The psychological theory complements the neurobiological evidence presented.
20. The examiners complimented the researcher on her defense of the thesis.

Business

1. The new marketing campaign complements our overall sales strategy.
2. The client paid our team a huge compliment on the final presentation.
3. Their complementary skills make them an ideal management team.
4. The hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi to all guests in the lobby.
5. The software update complements the existing security infrastructure.
6. The CEO complimented the department on exceeding its quarterly goals.
7. The acquisition is a perfect complement to our current product line.
8. The airline provided complimentary drinks to passengers during the delay.
9. The HR director noted that the employees' diverse backgrounds complement each other.
10. The vendor sent a complimentary gift basket to thank us for our business.
11. The graphic design complements the brand's modern image.
12. The investor complimented the startup founders on their impressive pitch deck.
13. The two companies offer complementary services that appeal to the same demographic.
14. The store gave out complimentary samples of the new perfume.
15. The new hire's expertise in AI complements the team's software development skills.
16. The board paid the retiring executive a warm compliment during the farewell dinner.
17. The packaging design complements the eco-friendly nature of the product.
18. The restaurant manager complimented the waiter on his excellent customer service.
19. The logistics software is an ideal complement to the warehouse management system.
20. The firm offered a complimentary consultation to attract new clients.