complyverb [ I ]
uk/kəmˈplaɪ/us/kəmˈplaɪ/formalC1 to act according to an order, set of rules, or request:
He's been ordered to have the dog destroyed because it's dangerous, but he refuses to comply.
There are serious penalties for failure to comply with the regulations.
More examples
- The court issued a contempt citation against city council members who refused to comply with a court order.
- He was happy to comply without any further urging from me.
- He was jailed for refusing to comply with the court order.
- The builders have not complied with the architect's instructions.
- She had very set views about the funeral, and everyone was happy to comply with her wishes.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Obeying & breaking the law
- abide
- adhere
- afoul
- bend the law/rules idiom
- breach
- break
- breaker
- clean
- clean up your act idiom
- commit
- compliant
- conform
- contravene
- disobey
- hold
- law-abiding
- perpetrate
- respect
- venal
- violate
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