Collins English Thesaurus Essential. Collins Dictionaries
zone, boundary, realmcompassion NOUN = sympathy, understanding, charity, pity, humanity, mercy, heart, quarter, sorrow, kindness, tenderness, condolence, clemency, commiseration, fellow feeling, soft-heartedness, tender-heartedness, aroha (N.Z.) ◼ OPPOSITE: indifferencecompassionate ADJECTIVE = sympathetic, kindly, understanding, tender, pitying, humanitarian, charitable, humane, indulgent, benevolent, lenient, merciful, kind-hearted, tender-hearted ◼ OPPOSITE: uncaringcompatibility NOUN 1 The committee will consider the bill's compatibility with human rights law. = agreement, consistency, accordance, affinity, conformity, concord, congruity, accord 2 She had concerns about their compatibility as friends. = like-mindedness, harmony, empathy, rapport, single-mindedness, amity (formal), sympathy, congenialitycompatible ADJECTIVE 1 Free enterprise, he argued, was compatible with Russian values and traditions. = consistent, in keeping, consonant, congenial, congruent, reconcilable, congruous, accordant, agreeable ◼ OPPOSITE: inappropriate 2 She and I are very compatible – we're interested in all the same things. = like-minded, harmonious, in harmony, in accord, of one mind, of the same mind, en rapport (French) ◼ OPPOSITE: incompatiblecompatriot NOUN = fellow countryman, countryman, fellow citizencompel VERB = force, make, urge, enforce, railroad (informal), drive, oblige, constrain, hustle (slang), necessitate, coerce, bulldoze (informal), impel, dragooncompelling ADJECTIVE 1 He puts forward a compelling argument against the policy. = convincing, telling, powerful, forceful, conclusive, weighty, cogent, irrefutable 2 = fascinating, gripping, irresistible, enchanting, enthralling, hypnotic, spellbinding, mesmeric ◼ OPPOSITE: boringcompendium NOUN = collection, summary, abstract, digest, compilation, epitome, synopsis, préciscompensate VERB 1 To ease financial difficulties, farmers could be compensated for their loss of subsidies. = recompense, repay, refund, reimburse, indemnify, make restitution, requite, remunerate (formal), satisfy, make good 2 She compensated for her burst of anger by doing even more for us. = make amends for, make up for, atone for, pay for, do penance for, cancel out, make reparation for, make redress for 3 The rewards more than compensated for the inconveniences involved in making the trip. = balance, cancel (out), offset, make up for, redress, counteract, neutralize, counterbalancecompensation NOUN 1 He received one year's salary as compensation for loss of office. = reparation, damages, payment, recompense, indemnification, offset, remuneration, indemnity, restitution, reimbursement, requital 2 The present she left him was no compensation for her absence. = recompense, amends, reparation, restitution, atonementcompete VERB 1 The stores will inevitably end up competing with each other for increased market shares. = contend, fight, rival, vie, challenge, struggle, contest, strive, pit yourself against 2 She has competed twice in the Berlin marathon. = take part, participate, be in the running, be a competitor, be a contestant, playcompetence NOUN 1 I regard her as a woman of integrity and high professional competence. = ability, skill, talent, capacity, expertise, proficiency, competency, capability ◼ OPPOSITE: incompetence 2 They questioned her competence as a pharmacist. = fitness, suitability, adequacy, appropriateness ◼ OPPOSITE: inadequacycompetent ADJECTIVE 1 He was a loyal and very competent civil servant. = able, skilled, capable, clever, endowed, proficient ◼ OPPOSITE: incompetent 2 I don't feel competent to deal with a medical emergency. = fit, qualified, equal, appropriate, suitable, sufficient, adequate ◼ OPPOSITE: unqualifiedcompetition NOUN 1 There's been some fierce competition for the title. = rivalry, opposition, struggle, contest, contention, strife, one-upmanship (informal) 2 In this business you have to stay one step ahead of the competition. = opposition, field, rivals, challengers 3 He will be banned from international competitions for four years. = contest, event, championship, tournament, head-to-headcompetitive ADJECTIVE 1 Modelling is a tough, competitive world. = cut-throat, aggressive, fierce, ruthless, relentless, antagonistic, dog-eat-dog 2 She has always been a fiercely competitive player. = ambitious, pushing, opposing, aggressive, two-fisted, vying, contentious, combativecompetitor NOUN 1 The bank isn't performing as well as some of its competitors. = rival, competition, opposition, adversary, antagonist 2 One of the oldest competitors in the race won the silver medal. = contestant, participant, contender, challenger, entrant, player, opponentcompilation NOUN = collection, treasury, accumulation, anthology, assortment, assemblagecompile VERB = put together, collect, gather, organize, accumulate, marshal, garner, amass, cull, anthologizecomplacency NOUN = smugness, satisfaction, gratification, contentment, self-congratulation, self-satisfactioncomplacent ADJECTIVE = smug, self-satisfied, pleased with yourself, resting on your laurels, pleased, contented, satisfied, gratified, serene, unconcerned, self-righteous, self-assured, self-contented ◼ OPPOSITE: insecurecomplain VERB = find fault, moan (informal), grumble, whinge (informal), beef (slang), carp, fuss, bitch (slang), groan, grieve, lament, whine, growl, deplore, grouse, gripe (informal), bemoan, bleat, put the boot in (slang), bewail, kick up a fuss (informal), grouch (informal), bellyache (slang), kvetch (U.S. slang), nit-pick (informal)complaint NOUN 1 There have been a number of complaints about the standard of service. = protest, accusation, objection, grievance, remonstrance (formal), charge 2 I don't have any complaints about the way I've been treated. = grumble, criticism, beef (slang), moan, bitch (slang), lament, grievance, wail, dissatisfaction, annoyance, grouse, gripe (informal), grouch (informal), plaint, fault-finding 3 Eczema is a common skin complaint. = disorder, problem, trouble, disease, upset, illness, sickness, ailment, affliction, malady, indispositioncomplement VERB Nutmeg complements the flavour of these beans perfectly. = enhance, complete, improve, boost, crown, add to, set off, heighten, augment, round off ▸ NOUN 1 The green wallpaper is the perfect complement to the old pine of the dresser. = accompaniment, companion, accessory, completion, finishing touch, rounding-off, adjunct, supplement 2 Each ship had a complement of around a dozen officers and 250 men and women. = total, capacity, quota, aggregate, contingent, entirety
| USAGE This is sometimes confused with compliment but the two words have very different meanings. As the synonyms show, the verb form of complement means 'to enhance' and 'to complete' something. In contrast, common synonyms of compliment as a verb are praise, commend, and flatter. |
complementary ADJECTIVE = matching, companion, corresponding, compatible, reciprocal, interrelating, interdependent, harmonizing ◼ OPPOSITE: incompatiblecomplete ADJECTIVE 1 He made me look like a complete idiot. = total, perfect, absolute, utter, outright, thorough, consummate, out-and-out, unmitigated, dyed-in-the-wool, thoroughgoing, deep-dyed 2 A complete tenement block was burnt to the ground. = whole, full, entire ◼ OPPOSITE: partial 3 Scientists have found the oldest complete skeleton of an ape-like man. = entire, full, whole, intact, unbroken, faultless, undivided, unimpaired ◼ OPPOSITE: incomplete 4 the complete works of Shakespeare = unabridged, full, entire 5 The work of restoring the farmhouse is complete. = finished, done, ended, completed, achieved, concluded, fulfilled, accomplished ◼ OPPOSITE: unfinished ▸ VERB 1 the stickers needed to complete the collection = perfect, accomplish, finish off, round off, crown, cap ◼ OPPOSITE: spoil 2 He had just completed his first novel. = finish, conclude, fulfil, accomplish, do, end, close, achieve, perform, settle, realize, execute, discharge, wrap up (informal), terminate, finalize ◼ OPPOSITE: startcompletely ADVERB = totally, entirely, wholly, utterly, quite, perfectly, fully, solidly, absolutely, altogether, thoroughly, in full, every inch, en masse, heart and soul, a hundred per cent, one hundred per cent, from beginning to end, down to