complement vs compliment: What's the Difference?

HomophonesHard

These words sound alike but mean different things. Here's how to keep them straight.

What each one means

  • complement: something that completes
  • compliment: praise or admiration

Examples

  • complement: The sauce complements the dish.
  • compliment: She gave me a nice compliment.

Practice

The colors ___ each other. I received a ___.

← More Spelling & Word Origins guides  ·  Explore the Spelling & Word Origins module →

📧 Get a free brain-teaser every morning

Join thousands of families learning something new each day.

Subscribe free