complimenting
Expressing sincere admiration
Complimenting is expressing praise or admiration to someone: She was complimenting him on his new haircut.
The word is often confused with complementing, which means completing or enhancing.
A compliment flatters; a complement fills a gap.
Formal expression of approval
- kudosPraise and honor
- accoladeExpression of high esteem
- tributeOffering of respect
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
recognition · congratulations · homage · laudation · ovation · plaudit · salute · honors
Spreading soft dairy fat
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sweet-talkFlatter to persuade
obsequiousness · adulation · blandishment · smooth-talking · smarm · toadyism · overpraise · insincerity
Emotionally encouraging
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- boostingIncreasing force or level
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
heartening · cheering · empowerment · inspiration · positivity · morale · confidence · affirming
Formal expression of support
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- respectRegard with honor
esteem · admiration · favor · support · blessing · ratification · thumbs-up · nod
commendation
Formal expression of approval
applause · recognition · congratulations · homage · laudation · ovation · plaudit · salute · honors · props
buttering
Spreading soft dairy fat
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
sweet-talk · obsequiousness · adulation · blandishment · smooth-talking · smarm · toadyism · overpraise · insincerity · cajolery
uplifting
Emotionally encouraging
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- supportTo uphold or sustain
- boostingIncreasing force or level
reassurance · heartening · cheering · empowerment · inspiration · positivity · morale · confidence · affirming · rallying
endorsement
Formal expression of support
- validationConfirming truth or accuracy
- affirmationPositive statement of truth
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
respect · esteem · admiration · favor · support · blessing · ratification · thumbs-up · nod · backing
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- romancelove story, amor, love, boyfriend, courting
- social skillssocial skills, conversation, sharing, helping, listening
- commendingpraising, lauding, applauding, extolling, acclaiming
- encouragementencourage, encouraging, praises, hang in there, supports
complimentinginsulting
Showing contempt through words
criticizing · disparaging · denigrating · belittling · deriding
complimentinghumiliating
Causing painful embarrassment
degrading · shaming · demeaning · mortifying · embarrassing
complimentingaffronting
Deliberately causing offense
offending · insulting · humiliating · degrading · demeaning
compliment, complement, compliments, complimentary, complimented, uncomplimentary, complimenter, noncomplimentary