compliance

noun

kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s How to pronounce compliance (audio)
Definition of compliancenext
1
as in obedience
a readiness or willingness to yield to the wishes of others a strong-willed pop star who is not known for her compliance

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2
as in submission
a bending to the authority or control of another an administrator who demands prompt and unquestioning compliance from subordinates

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3
as in adherence
the following of a custom, rule, or law compliance with the statute was far from universal

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of compliance The auditor, who is to be jointly appointed by the states and Meta, will be responsible for evaluating the company’s compliance with the terms of the settlement. — Nathaniel Lubin, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 In March, the department sent a letter to state superintendents about compliance obligations under FERPA. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 An independent auditor will monitor Meta’s compliance with the agreement. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 All that remains are multibillion-dollar deficits, looming compliance deadlines and a rigid, top-down funding apparatus that is pushing local governments and school systems over a fiscal cliff. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for compliance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compliance
  1. obedience
  2. submission
  3. adherence
  4. compliancy
  5. conformity
  6. conformance
  7. acquiescence
  8. observation
Noun
  • Falwell championed a vision of America rooted in obedience to biblical authority and conformity with traditional values, placing him in tension with Enlightenment principles like individual rights, rational inquiry, and free thought.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • One of six K-9s with the sheriff’s office, Koda is trained in narcotics detection, tracking people, article searches and obedience.
    — Marissa Yelenik, Baltimore Sun, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of obedience
Noun
  • Data from the missions are expected to help establish the testing and documentation needed for future regulatory submissions.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Building on this recognition, the winner of the Busan Award – Best Film, the top prize in BIFF’s Competition section, now qualifies for submission to the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of submission
Noun
  • Catering to the Volume, Not the Power User From a purely capitalistic standpoint, power users who demand high literacy, strict prompt adherence, and investigative rigor represent a tiny fraction of Google's user base.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
  • If our readers question our adherence to that basic tenet of journalism, our credibility will be at stake.
    — Mike Semel, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of adherence
Noun
  • Paired with the news of Mahomes’ restructure, the Chiefs have opened up a simple path to compliancy.
    — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 18 Feb. 2026
  • While the legislation aims to address gaps in compliancy with federal transparency rules, the Wisconsin Hospital Association argues it's not needed as the state ranks high in transparency adherence.
    — Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 11 June 2025
Definition of compliancy
Noun
  • Anyone could guess going into this album that Erykah’s sticking points are groupthink, conformity, and phone obsession.
    — Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Jones made rejection her trademark, rebelling against conformity and embracing an image and music that pushed boundaries and refused labels.
    — Lisa Whittington-Hill, Longreads, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of conformity
Noun
  • Explain how the agent takes in tasks and context and how the output is measured against definable tolerances (targets, conformances and limits).
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That said, the final plat is in substantial conformance with the previous proposals, Latinovic said.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
Definition of conformance
Noun
  • Oil has long funded the Gulf’s expensive social contract, in which governments provide citizens with cushy jobs and high-quality services in return for political acquiescence.
    — Dina Esfandiary, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • With Taiwan’s 2028 elections approaching, sustained American support strengthens voices favoring self-defense over acquiescence to Beijing.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of acquiescence
Noun
  • Yet Kisley was not surprised by this observation despite its novelty.
    — Isabel Gil, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Information for the charges came from multiple sources, including citizen informants, who had observed Wolff hunting on their property, observations made by wardens while on patrol, and surveillance.
    — David Zeug, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of observation

Browse Nearby Words

complexness
compliance
compliances
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Cite this Entry

“Compliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compliance. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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