Confusable pair · B2
Complement or compliment?
A compliment is something nice you say. A complement is something that completes or goes well with something else. The wine complements the fish; the chef received a compliment. The spelling difference is one letter, and the meanings have nothing at all in common, which is why the mistake is so noticeable in writing.
Which word, and why
- complement
completes or goes well with something
To combine well with something, or a thing that completes another.
complement each other · a perfect complement to · the full complement of staff
- compliment
a nice thing said about someone
An expression of praise, or to express praise.
pay someone a compliment · compliment her on · with our compliments
Now use it
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Item 1 of 5
The sharpness of the apple the richness of the pork.