100 Positivity-Boosting Compliments (2023)

A compliment is an expression of regard, admiration, praise, or respect.It feels great to receive a compliment. Research shows getting a sincere compliment gives us the same positive boost as receiving cash. The health and happiness benefits of the compliment giver are also well-documented.

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.

1. Your smile is contagious.
2. I bet you make babies smile.
3. You have the best laugh.
4. You light up the room.
5. You have a great sense of humor.
6. If cartoon bluebirds were real, a couple of 'em would be sitting on your shoulders singing right now.
7. You're like sunshine on a rainy day.
8. You bring out the best in other people.
9. I bet you sweat glitter.
10. Colors seem brighter when you're around.
11. You're more fun than a ball pit filled with candy.
12. Jokes are funnier when you tell them.
13. You always know how to find that silver lining.
14. You're a candle in the darkness.
15. Being around you is like a happy little vacation.
16. You're more fun than bubble wrap.
17. You're like a breath of fresh air.
18. You're someone's reason to smile.
19. How do you keep being so funny and making everyone laugh?

Complimenting Personal Traits

These compliments acknowledge different qualities the person exhibits.

1. You have impeccable manners.
2. I like your style.
3. You're strong.
4. Is that your picture next to "charming" in the dictionary?
5. Your kindness is a balm to all who encounter it.
6. You are brave.
7. You are beautiful on the inside and outside.
8. You have the courage of your convictions.
9. You're a great listener.
10. You were cool way before hipsters were cool.
11. That thing you don't like about yourself is what makes you really interesting.
12. You're inspiring.
13. You're so thoughtful.
14. When you make up your mind, nothing stands in your way.
15. You seem to really know who you are.

Complimenting Intelligence, Creativity, and Resourcefulness

These compliments show that you appreciate the person's abilities.

1. You're a smart cookie.
2. Your perspective is refreshing.
3. Your ability to recall random factoids at just the right times is impressive.
4. When you say, "I meant to do that," I totally believe you.
5. You have the best ideas.
6. You're always learning new things and trying to better yourself. That's awesome.
7. If someone based an Internet meme on you, it would have impeccable grammar.
8. You could survive a zombie apocalypse.
9. When you make a mistake, you fix it.
10. You're great at figuring stuff out.
11. Your creative potential seems limitless.
12. I bet you do crossword puzzles in ink.
13. You have a good head on your shoulders.
14. Everyone gets knocked down sometimes; only people like you get back up again and keep going.

Complimenting Accomplishments

It is often good to compliment a specific action or achievement.

1. I am so proud of you, and I hope you are too!
2. You are making a difference.
3. You deserve a hug right now.
4. You're a great example to others.
5. Actions speak louder than words, and yours tell an incredible story.

Complimenting Personal Relationships

How do you compliment a friend? Try using these compliments that focus on how the person relates to others.

1. You're an awesome friend.
2. You're more helpful than you realize.
3. Hanging out with you is always fun.
4. The way you always know when someone needs something is amazing.
5. Being around you makes everything better.
6. You should be thanked more often. Thank you.
7. Our community is better because you're in it.
8. Someone is getting through something hard right now because you've got their back. Nice work.
9. You always know just what to say.
10. The people you love are lucky to have you in their lives.
11. Any team would be lucky to have you on it.
12. Defenseless animals are drawn to you.
13. The way you treasure your loved ones is incredible.
14. You're a gift to those around you.

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.

1. You are glowing—and that's the least interesting thing about you, too.
2. You look great today.
3. Your eyes are breathtaking.
4. How is it that you always look so great, even if you're in ratty pajamas?
5. That color isperfect onyou.
6. You smell really good.
7. You may dance like no one's watching, but everyone's watching because you're mesmerizing.
8. You have cute elbows. For real.
9. Your belly button is kind of adorable.
10. Your hair looks stunning.
11. Your voice is magnificent.
12. Your name suits you to a T.
13. You're irresistible when you blush.
14. Has anyone ever told you that you have great posture?

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:

1. I absolutely love that shirt. It really brings out the color of your eyes.
2. Your hair looks so great today.
3. You have such a great sense of style.
4. You have such a great personality.
5. I really enjoy talking to you.

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.

1. I appreciate you.
2. You are perfect just the way you are.
3. You are enough.
4. You're all that and a super-size bag of chips.
5. On a scale from 1 to 10, you're an 11.
6. You've got all the right moves.
7. Everything would be better if more people were like you.
8. You are an incredible human.
9. You're wonderful.
10. You're better than a triple-scoop ice cream cone. With sprinkles.
11. You're one of a kind.
12. If you were a box of crayons, you'd be the big industrial name-brand one with a built-in sharpener.
13. Who raised you? They deserve a medal for a job well done.
14. Somehow you make time stop and fly all at the same time.
15. In high school, I bet you were voted "most likely to continue being awesome."
16. If you were a scented candle they'd have to call it Perfectly Imperfect (and it would smell like summer).
17. There's ordinary, and then there's you.
18. You're even better than a unicorn because you're real.
19. You're really something special.

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.