complements 1 of 2

noun

plural of complement
1
as in supplements
something that serves to complete or make up for a deficiency in something else with his practicality and her refreshing enthusiasm, they are perfect complements to each other

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in capacities
the largest number or amount that something can hold a full complement of sailors on the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

complements

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of complement
as in adorns
to serve as a completing element to this silk handkerchief will complement your suit very nicely and give it a bit of dash

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complements
Noun
Make sure the music stays in the background and complements, not competes with, the conversation. — Kate Donovan, Martha Stewart, 20 Apr. 2026 Cinnamon Cinnamon's warm, spicy flavor complements drinks like apple cider and baked goods like cookies, pumpkin pie, and sweet bread. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 9 June 2026 Best of all, these eclectic complements come in all shapes and sizes—from modern designs by contemporary artists and local artisans to collectible porcelains resold by vintage dealers. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026 The heat- and wear-resistant PBT keycaps can take a real beating, and the all-white backlighting complements the overall vibe quite well. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 The oversized shape comes in a variation of colors, but the classic black complements Kravitz's edgy aesthetic while offering plenty of room for workday essentials. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026 Other interventions, like non-surgical or surgical skin tightening procedures, can be helpful complements, too. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Apr. 2026 China and Russia have both built terrestrial complements to their satellite navigation systems, creating layered resilience that the United States still lacks. — Mariam Sorond, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The programming lineup complements previously announced selections, including narrative and documentary feature films, exclusive screenings and world premieres, sneak peaks and red-carpet premieres. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
This dip complements guacamole and salsa, serve as a trio with tortilla chips. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 4 July 2026 Another great perk to this dress is its midi length, which complements short heels, ballet flats, and sneakers alike. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 3 July 2026 Whether your floors are light oak, rich walnut, or something in between, here’s how to find a wall color that complements the tone and grain of the wood. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 The rolling meadows, forests, and enchanting Monet gardens form an artistic canvas that complements the hotel’s interiors. — Veronica M. Stoddart, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 An all-cash deal for the industrial AI company, which complements Aveva, its industrial software arm. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 1 July 2026 Nusa’s burst of pace on the left, allied to his dexterous footwork, perfectly complements a forward line that has plenty of physicality and power through Haaland and Alexander Sorloth. — Stuart James, New York Times, 30 June 2026 This work complements the work being done on the industry side via the IAB and its Creator Economy Board, which exists to close the gap between creator experts and media buying experts. — Zoe Soon, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Crucially, the country excels at connecting academia—with top-tier universities that produce world-class research which complements technical universities that provide specialized apprenticeships—and the private sector. — Alois Zwinggi, Time, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complements
  1. supplements
  2. capacities
  3. adorns
  4. correlates
  5. volumes
  6. decorates
  7. completes
  8. enhances
Noun
  • Third-Party Testing and Certification Protein powders and other supplements are not subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation in the way medications are, so their quality and safety are not guaranteed.
    — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 3 July 2026
  • In addition is a regime of far less appetizing supplements—daily Epsom salts, bitterdrops, and other shots—which aid in the detoxifying process.
    — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of supplements
Noun
  • More than a language, Webster gave American writers a certain belief in their capacities for language.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
  • In the near term the company is planning to advance commercial-scale REE refining with capacities ranging from 100 to 1,000 tons per year.
    — Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026
Definition of capacities
Verb
  • Co-Space has become known for the visual art that adorns its walls, and Byrd created a blue-and-white painting at the center.
    — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
  • Other clocks are affixed to a structure, like the clocks at Union Station, or the clock that adorns the archway into Little Village.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
Definition of adorns
Noun
  • Emerging research suggests those experiences may have measurable biological correlates.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 17 June 2026
  • The state office is mandated to report to the legislature on missing persons and homicide cases, along with the correlates of domestic violence and human trafficking.
    — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of correlates
Noun
  • The platform has consistently managed volumes over $1 billion daily since the football tournament began on June 11.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • But between increasingly stiff anti-smoking legislation and very real declines in volumes for years, some investors have given up the industry—and Altria—for dead.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of volumes
Verb
  • Most folks associate the name with the beautiful and unique desert plant which decorates the landscape in the southern most section of central California.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The sandals are embellished with the signature Ribbon buckle, which decorates a dainty strap that wraps delicately around the ankle.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
Definition of decorates
Verb
  • Formula 1’s own Oxford Street mega-store completes the picture, consolidating all ten teams’ merchandise within a high-footfall retail environment designed to convert fandom directly into revenue.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Commercial trackers, accessibility concerns Perhaps even more concerning to the public are the projects NDS seemingly completes and never ships.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
Definition of completes
Verb
  • Sharper battlefield awareness Teledyne FLIR said the software enhances image quality using computational imaging techniques such as turbulence mitigation, dehazing, and super-resolution.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
  • The workflow also has extensibility to a variety of other agentic use cases, including the company’s Chat Concierge tool which enhances the customer experience for car buyers and dealers.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of enhances

Browse Nearby Words

complementing
complements
complete
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complements.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complements. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on complements

Nglish: Translation of complements for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All