complaisant

Complaisant is an adjective describing a person who is eager to please others and to comply with their wishes; obliging, agreeable, and courteous in social interaction. The term can describe a demeanor that is helpful and accommodating, often in a gentle, courteous way, as when someone yields to others' preferences to maintain harmony. In some contexts, complaisant can carry a mild negative nuance if it implies excessive deference or a lack of firmness.

Etymology: from French complaisant, from complaire, "to please," from Latin placere, "to please." The form is distinct from complacent, which means self-satisfied and unaware or unconcerned about circumstances.

Usage: Complaisant is more common in descriptive writing about interpersonal behavior, diplomacy, or etiquette. It may appear in phrases such as "a complaisant host" or "a complaisant assistant." The word is generally considered neutral or lightly positive, though it can imply a person is overly compliant.

Synonyms include obliging, accommodating, deferential, complaisant; antonyms include obstinate, uncooperative, intractable.

See also: compliance, complaisance (the noun form).