complimentary remark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complimentary remark" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a positive or flattering comment made about someone or something. Example: "Her speech was filled with complimentary remarks about the team's hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Perhaps the most complimentary remark to be made about Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill is that in 90 minutes and under Lonny Price's fully empathetic direction, she nails that voice and she gets that whole life.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Tells about the ironically-intended complimentary remarks which were taken--wildly--out of context.

The New Yorker

First, you travel to Russia and make complimentary remarks about president Vladimir Putin.

The Guardian

Though he did study Haitian writing, Wilson showed no interest in African-American writers, apart from some complimentary remarks about Baldwin.

The New Yorker

Ripley made some complimentary remarks about the birds of Nepal and expressed a strong desire to remove some of them, in the interests of science.

The New Yorker

Ryan noticed that, during the campaign, the complimentary remarks about his reform ideas from President Obama and other Democrats were replaced by criticism of his entitlement plan as a risky scheme.

The New Yorker

Several neighbors came by, made the kind of complimentary remarks you dredge up with someone serves you homemade wine, then rushed home to remove me from their holiday-party invitation lists.

The New York Times - Arts

The striker made some less than complimentary remarks about Guardiola in a book that has been widely quoted in recent weeks but the City manager said he always rated Ibrahimovic as a player.

The Guardian - Sport

The McCain-Obama dispute about Hamas began last month, after Ahmed Yousef, a political adviser to the group's leadership in Gaza, made complimentary remarks about Mr. Obama in an interview with WABC radio in New York.

The New York Times

[Insert quote in which Aguero makes complimentary remarks about Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and London here - Fiver Ed.] Cesc Fabregas's dad has denied reports he had a meeting with Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano at the weekend.

The Guardian - Sport

They became agitated when he told them he had made complimentary remarks about France to a number of strangers in the street and they had not acknowledged his praise.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and the situation when deciding whether to use "complimentary remark" or a more direct synonym like "praise" or "flattery".

Common error

A common mistake is confusing "complimentary" with "complementary". "Complimentary" means expressing praise or admiration, while "complementary" means enhancing or completing something else. Using the wrong word can completely change the meaning of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complimentary remark" functions as a noun phrase where "complimentary" modifies the noun "remark". It describes the type of remark being made, specifically one that is positive and expresses praise or admiration. The Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as shown in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complimentary remark" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable phrase used to describe a statement of praise or admiration. As verified by Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, with occasional use in scientific and formal business settings. While the phrase itself is straightforward, it's important to distinguish "complimentary" from "complementary" to avoid confusion. When using "complimentary remark", ensure that the context aligns with its intended positive meaning and that it does not come across as sarcastic. Alternatives such as "flattering comment" or "positive feedback" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

praiseful comment

Replaces "remark" with "comment" and uses "praiseful" to emphasize the positive nature.

flattering observation

Substitutes "remark" with "observation" and "complimentary" with "flattering", indicating a comment intended to please.

positive statement

Uses the more general term "statement" instead of "remark" and "positive" instead of "complimentary".

favorable mention

Replaces "remark" with "mention" and "complimentary" with "favorable", indicating a positive acknowledgement.

glowing assessment

Uses stronger terms to describe a highly positive evaluation or judgment.

laudatory declaration

Employs more formal and emphatic vocabulary to convey strong praise.

appreciative comment

Focuses on the expression of gratitude or thankfulness in the comment.

admiring expression

Highlights the element of admiration or respect conveyed in the remark.

kind word

Simplifies the phrase to its most basic and heartfelt elements.

approving nod

Changes the mode of expression from verbal to non-verbal, implying agreement and satisfaction.

FAQs

How can I use "complimentary remark" in a sentence?

You can use "complimentary remark" to describe a positive statement made about someone or something. For example, "The speaker made a "complimentary remark" about the team's performance".

What's a more formal alternative to "complimentary remark"?

A more formal alternative could be "laudatory statement" or "glowing assessment". These phrases convey a similar meaning but with a more elevated tone.

What can I say instead of "complimentary remark"?

You can use alternatives like "flattering comment", "positive feedback", or "kind word" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between a "complimentary remark" and "flattery"?

While both involve positive comments, ""complimentary remark"" generally implies sincere appreciation, whereas "flattery" can suggest insincerity or an attempt to gain favor.