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Comply vs Complain - What's the difference?

comply | complain |

As verbs the difference between comply and complain

is that comply is to yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform while complain is to express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

comply

English

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply , / Scandalous or forbidden in our law.
  • * (John Tillotson) (1630-1694)
  • They did servilely comply with the people in worshiping God by sensible images.
  • * 1664? , , (Hudibras)
  • He that complies against his will / Is of his own opinion still.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=6, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=But Sophia's mother was not the woman to brook defiance. After a few moments' vain remonstrance her husband complied .}}
  • *
  • (label) To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments.
  • * 1599 , , II. ii. 371:
  • Let me comply with you in this / garb, lest my extent to the players, which I tell you must / show fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment / than yours.
  • (label) To fulfill; to accomplish.
  • (Chapman)
  • (label) To enfold; to embrace.
  • * (1591-1674)
  • Seemed to comply , / Cloudlike, the daintie deitie.

    Usage notes

    * Usually followed by "with".

    Antonyms

    * violate

    Anagrams

    *

    complain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
  • Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours.
  • * Milton
  • O loss of sight, of thee I most complain !
  • To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.
  • They've complained about me to the police again.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king?
  • To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.
  • the complaining bed-springs

    Synonyms

    * grumble * grouse * grump * bitch * beef * gripe * whine * kvetch * moan * whinge * See also