complementary
Together forming wholeness
Complementary describes things that complete or enhance each other when combined.
Complementary colors sit opposite on the color wheel and create contrast.
Complementary skills in a team fill different needs.
Their personalities are complementary—she's outgoing, he's reflective.
In geometry, complementary angles sum to ninety degrees.
Not to be confused with complimentary, which means flattering or free of charge.
Identical in appearance
- fitProper or healthy
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- congruenceState of agreement
- compatibilityMutual suitability between things
correspondence · alignment · coordination · counterpart · tandem · interlocking · concordance · unison
Reverse or contrary thing
- afterimageLingering visual impression
- visualOf or concerning sight
- contrastNotable difference between things
- vibrantFull of life, intensity
red-green · pigment · palette · painting · design · chromatic · hue · tint
Shared between parties
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
- quid-pro-quoExchange of equivalents
back-and-forth · symbiotic · cooperative · two-way · interdependent · corresponding · offsetting · correlative
Beyond the existing amount
- auxiliaryGiving additional support
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
- ancillaryProviding additional support
- secondaryLesser in rank
accessory · subsidiary · adjunct · backup · accompanying · extra · add-on · supporting
Science of spatial relationships
- right-angleNinety-degree intersection
- perpendicularAt right angles
- trigonometryTriangle angle mathematics
- adjacentDirectly next to
acute · math · measurement · degree · supplementary · protractor · vertex · intersection
Stressing for emphasis
- amplifyingIncreasing strength or intensity
- boostingIncreasing force or level
- elevatingLifting to higher level
- heighteningIncreasing in degree
improving · intensifying · magnifying · enriching · strengthening · augmenting · reinforcing · fortifying
matching
Identical in appearance
- fitProper or healthy
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- congruenceState of agreement
compatibility · correspondence · alignment · coordination · counterpart · tandem · interlocking · concordance · unison · dovetailing
opposite
Reverse or contrary thing
- afterimageLingering visual impression
- visualOf or concerning sight
- contrastNotable difference between things
vibrant · red-green · pigment · palette · painting · design · chromatic · hue · tint · shade
mutual
Shared between parties
- give-and-takeMutual concession between parties
- interchangeReciprocal transfer between parties
- exchangeMutual giving and receiving
quid-pro-quo · back-and-forth · symbiotic · cooperative · two-way · interdependent · corresponding · offsetting · correlative · codependent
additional
Beyond the existing amount
- auxiliaryGiving additional support
- supportiveOffering help and reassurance
- ancillaryProviding additional support
secondary · accessory · subsidiary · adjunct · backup · accompanying · extra · add-on · supporting · parallel
geometry
Science of spatial relationships
- right-angleNinety-degree intersection
- perpendicularAt right angles
- trigonometryTriangle angle mathematics
adjacent · acute · math · measurement · degree · supplementary · protractor · vertex · intersection
accentuating
Stressing for emphasis
- amplifyingIncreasing strength or intensity
- boostingIncreasing force or level
- elevatingLifting to higher level
heightening · improving · intensifying · magnifying · enriching · strengthening · augmenting · reinforcing · fortifying · polishing
- color coordinationmatching, palette, scheme, hue, tones
- harmoniouspeaceful, balanced, serene, tranquil, unified
- color theorycolor theory, hue, primary colors, secondary colors, saturation
- angle termsacute, obtuse, right, straight, reflex
- color schemesmonochromatic, analogous, triadic, neutral, warm colors
- Dualityduality, dual nature, two sides, yin and yang, yin-yang
complementaryclashing
Striking with discord
conflicting · discordant · incompatible · mismatched · incongruous
complementaryredundant
Exceeding what's needed
duplicative · competing · superfluous · rival · substitutive
complementaryindependent
Free from external control
unrelated · separate · disconnected · autonomous · self-sufficient
- complementary colorOpposite on color wheel
- complementary angleAngle needing another for ninety
- complementary coloursOpposing hues on wheel
- complementary medicineUnconventional treatments supplementing mainstream care
- complementary therapiesNon-standard healing practices
- complementary therapyHealing used with mainstream treatment
complementarity, complementary colors, complementary medicine