Compliments really are one of the easiest two-way streets available in terms of spreading happiness around you and increasing your own. The more you compliment, the better you feel. Here are a hundred ready-made compliments to try out for yourself. Such compliments can work for almost any situation, whether you compliment a friend or a colleague.
Complimenting Positivity
These compliments focus on the joy, fun, and positive outlook the person brings.
Complimenting Personal Traits
These compliments acknowledge different qualities the person exhibits.
Complimenting Intelligence, Creativity, and Resourcefulness
These compliments show that you appreciate the person’s abilities.
Complimenting Accomplishments
It is often good to compliment a specific action or achievement.
Complimenting Personal Relationships
How do you compliment a friend? Try using these compliments that focus on how the person relates to others.
Complimenting Appearance
These compliments can be problematic as complimenting appearance can come across as flirting, and so they should be avoided in many business and social contexts. Complimenting one’s appearance (body, shape, or weight) can also be harmful, especially to someone who is struggling with an eating disorder or body image issue.
Complimenting a Romantic Interest
If you want to compliment someone you are interested in romantically or sexually, be polite, recognize the contexts in which such compliments are appropriate, and pay attention to the tone of voice and body language. Respect the other person’s boundaries if your compliments seem unwelcome. Rather than focusing on aspects of their physical body, consider complimenting something like their style, talents, or behaviors. For example, you might say something like: If you want to compliment someone you are in a relationship with, you might mention how they make you feel, how much you enjoy seeing them each day, or how creative and talented they are.
Complimenting the Whole Person
These compliments may be a little too general. As with complimenting appearance, consider whether they are appropriate or may be bordering on being flirtatious.
A Word From Verywell
Start complimenting and find out for yourself how great it makes you feel. If you pick any of these, be sure to personalize it so it truly reflects what you appreciate about the person you are complimenting. If someone deflects your compliments or responds awkwardly, consider what their response might indicate. In some cases, they might feel uncomfortable with the attention, or they might just not be sure how to accept a compliment. In either case, try not to take it too personally and move the conversation forward by talking about other subjects without dwelling on the awkwardness.
