complementary with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'complementary with' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that two or more things complement or go well together. For example, "The colors of their dresses were complementary with each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

An assortment of Greek dessert pastries are complementary with dinner.

The New York Times - Arts

Salads are complementary with entrees, but there are two $5 versions that are worth the splurge.

The New York Times

As she explains it, her pleasure principle has always been complementary with her business sense.

The New York Times

So maybe office workers will soon be wondering whether their skills are complementary with the computer's, or whether it would actually do better on its own.

The Guardian - Tech

They said the project was complementary with their plan and that they were trying to start an industry discussion of the issue.

The New York Times - Tech

I always want a menu with complete balance, a menu where you can taste every element and every element is complementary with every other one.

The New York Times - Food

Noting that Unirazak collaborates regularly with Inceif, Dr. Williams insisted that such programs were complementary with his school's degrees.

The New York Times

It is appealing to suppose that, because no shocking revelations have emerged, it does not matter that the future king cares deeply about, say, affordable rural housing or the integration of complementary with conventional medicine in the NHS.

The Guardian - Opinion

The food was delicate and the presentation not overly elaborate, and the courses were well thought out, the flavors complementary, with servings just large enough to leave us, at the end of five courses, amply fed.

The New York Times - Travel

Juncker said the planned European defence HQ and common military force – plans which Britain has long opposed, and which France and Germany will present in greater detail in Bratislava – would be "complementary with Nato".

The Guardian

Their economies are remarkably complementary, with Brazil shipping iron ore, timber, zinc, beef, milk and soybeans to China and China investing in Brazil's hydroelectric dams, steel mills and shoe factories.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complementary with", ensure that the relationship between the items being described is clear and that the benefit of their combination is evident to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "complementary with" when the items simply coexist without enhancing each other. True complementarity implies a synergistic benefit arising from the combination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complementary with" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, modifying a noun to describe its ability to enhance or complete something else. As Ludwig shows, this phrase is commonly used to express compatibility and mutual enhancement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complementary with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase indicates that two or more things enhance or work well together. With primary contexts spanning science, news, and formal business, it demonstrates broad applicability, with the user's intent often being to emphasize the synergistic relationship. Alternative phrasing, such as ""harmonious with"" or ""compatible with"", offers nuanced ways to express similar concepts. When using "complementary with", ensure that the synergy between the elements is clearly defined and avoid using it when simple coexistence is all that's implied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmonious with

Emphasizes agreement or aesthetic pleasing when things are combined.

compatible with

Highlights the ability of things to exist or work together without conflict.

in sync with

Suggests an alignment or correspondence in timing or operation.

in agreement with

Indicates a state of accord or consensus.

consistent with

Focuses on the uniformity or lack of contradiction between things.

supportive of

Highlights that something gives assistance or approval to something else.

works well with

A more informal way of saying that things combine effectively.

enhances

Implies making more attractive or effective

goes hand in hand with

Highlights a close connection where one thing typically accompanies the other.

mutually beneficial with

Underscores the reciprocal advantages of the relationship.

FAQs

How can I use "complementary with" in a sentence?

You can use "complementary with" to describe how two or more things enhance each other, such as "The new software is "compatible with" existing systems, making integration seamless." Or "The wine was "harmonious with" the cheese, enhancing both flavors."

What is a good alternative to "complementary with"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like ""harmonious with"", ""compatible with"", or "supportive of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it redundant to say "mutually complementary with"?

Yes, saying "mutually complementary with" can be redundant, since "complementary" already implies a mutual relationship. Simply using "complementary with" is sufficient.

How does "complementary with" differ from "supplementary to"?

"Complementary with" implies that two things enhance each other, whereas "supplementary to" means that one thing adds to or completes the other. Something "supplementary to" might be an optional addition, while things "complementary with" each other often form an integral combination.