# compromising

/ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪzɪŋ/ (US) · /kˈɒmpɹəmˌaɪzɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compromising
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. damaging to reputation

adjective · CEFR B2

showing something about you that you would rather keep secret because it is embarrassing or wrong.

For teachers: revealing information or circumstances that are socially damaging or potentially ruinous to a person's reputation.

- The politician resigned after a compromising photo appeared in the morning newspaper.
- The investigator discovered several compromising documents in the safe that linked the CEO directly to the offshore tax evasion scheme.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. willing to agree

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

willing to change what you want so that everyone can agree.

For teachers: demonstrating a willingness to make concessions or reach a middle ground in a dispute.

- The manager took a compromising approach to solve the argument between the two teams.
- The diplomat's compromising stance during the initial negotiations paved the way for a comprehensive peace treaty between the two nations.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'uncompromising' is much more common than this positive sense; learners often use 'flexible' instead.

## Examples

- The politician was found in a compromising position.
- She deleted the compromising emails before the investigation began to protect her professional standing.
- The leaked documents contained several compromising details regarding the firm's offshore accounts, leading to an immediate collapse in investor confidence and a series of high-level resignations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.