“Compliment” vs. “Complement”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “compliment” and “complement”

  • Compliments are usually directed towards people, while complements are used to describe the relationship between things.
  • Compliments offer positive feedback, while complements refer to things fitting together well.
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What is the definition of “compliment” and “complement”?

Compliment
  • A compliment is a polite expression of admiration or praise.
  • It is often given as a way to boost someone's confidence or show appreciation.
  • Compliments can be given for a person's appearance, talents, achievements, or personality traits.
Complement
  • A complement is something that completes or enhances something else.
  • It is often used in reference to things that go well together or make each other better.
  • For example, a wine might complement a meal or a color might complement an outfit.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Complement” is the more popular variant on the web.
Compliment
116,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. I received a compliment on my new haircut today.
  2. She always knows how to give a sincere compliment.
  3. His kind words were the perfect compliment to my hard work.
More popular
Complement
341,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The red shoes really complemented her green dress.
  2. The spicy sauce was a great complement to the bland dish.
  3. The new employee's skills will complement the existing team's strengths.
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