Do you know someone who never says no to what others say and wonders why? There are several reasons a person may never say no to the ideas or requests of others.
He/she may simply detest arguing. He/she may have no idea of what is being discussed and will easily believe what is said to him/her. He/she may also just consider everything possible or executable.
This article will deal with the words to call a person who doesn’t say ‘No’ to people. There will be positive words and negative words, as the act of never saying No doesn’t necessarily make the person gullible or a slave.
A positive word to call a person who doesn’t say No is ‘Amenable’. Another positive word from a different angle is ‘Reserved’. A negative word for a person who doesn’t say no to orders from a person or other people is ‘Lackey’.
15 Words to call Someone Who Never Says No
- Acquiescent
- Open-minded
- Pollyanna
- Pushover
- Credulous
- Doormat
- Sycophant
- Obedient
- Sanguine
- Agreeable
- Servile
- Compliant
- Submissive
- Receptive
- Diligent
Acquiescent
‘Acquiescent’ is a word for a person who never says ‘No’ and makes himself or herself available to be used by a person or everyone. An acquiescent person doesn’t say No to the ideas of others.
He or she simply agrees with whatever he/she is told to do and allows himself or herself to be manipulated.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, an acquiescent person is a person who is willing to accept or agree to something without any objections. It has to do with being submissive to the decisions or opinions of others.
Examples:
- He is so acquiescent that he could be led into an obvious pit.
- He is an acquiescent person so don’t expect to hear new ideas from him
Open-minded
‘Open-minded’ is one of the positive words you can use for someone who doesn’t say No to the ideas of others.
However, this may not capture the behavior of whom you are trying to qualify. This is only suitable if the person simply accepts the ideas of others as possible without agreeing to their validity and without arguing over them.
An Open-minded person however is keen to learning new things and hearing new arguments. Therefore, his/her refusal to say No isn’t gullibility but a willingness to understand the perspective of the other person.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, an Open-minded person is one who is willing to consider new and different opinions or ideas. This person will most likely consider the ideas of another person before thinking of giving his/her opinion.
Examples:
- He’s an open-minded person. He will understand.
- He is open-minded but he should have better ideas.
Pollyanna
‘Pollyanna’ is a name you can give to a person who is hopelessly optimistic. The name is from a fictional female character who demonstrated the same traits of optimism, even in a situation where what she hoped for seemed impossible.
You can use this word in referring to someone who doesn’t say No to the possibility of something until it actually fails. He/she keeps on hoping for something to happen even when there are several proofs that it won’t be.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, Pollyanna refers to a person who is persistently cheerful and optimistic, even when given cause not to be so.
Examples:
- She’s a Pollyanna. She can’t see the faults in this.
- I don’t want a Pollyanna who can’t criticize our strategy.
Pushover
‘Pushover’ is a name you can call someone who is easily controlled by others. He/she doesn’t say no when asked to do something for others. Another name you can give such a person is ‘Puppet’.
A puppet is easily controlled and made to do everything the Puppeteer wants. The same applies to a pushover. This name is suitable for a person who allows himself or herself to be made to do things.
A positive word you can use instead of pushover is ‘Trusting.’
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Pushover is Someone who is easily swayed or influenced to change his/her mind or comply.
The same Dictionary also defines ‘Pushover’ as ‘Someone who allows himself to be bullied without defending himself or herself’.
Examples:
- One more pushover will only weaken our team.
- I’m not a pushover who can’t speak up for himself m
Credulous
‘Credulous’ is an adjective you can use to refer to a person who is naïve and quick to believe the ideas or claims of others.
This person can also be called Gullible as he/she can be easily deceived. A credulous person is one who doesn’t ask for proof of a claim before accepting it to be true.
Like a pushover, a credulous person is ‘trusting’. He/she is naïve enough to believe everyone is telling the truth and will be easily manipulated into doing wrong things.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Credulous person is one who is excessively ready to believe things. This kind of person will be easily deceived.
Examples:
- Don’t be so credulous. Always ask for proof.
- A Credulous person like him can help our team with ideas.
Doormat
‘Doormat’ is a synonym of ‘Pushover’. You can use ‘Doormat’ to address a person who is used by others.
Like a pushover is submissive to the wishes of the people around him/her, a doormat does the will of others. This opens the door for a lot of disrespect. A ‘Doormat’ is a person who can’t stand up to the accusations, requests, or orders of other people.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a ‘Doormat’ is someone who is overly submissive to others’ wishes. Like a pushover, a doormat lets himself or herself get bullied.
Examples:
- You can’t be a doormat and expect to be heard.
- I’m not a doormat. Get your lackey elsewhere.
Sycophant
‘Sycophant’ is a negative name for someone who allows a particular person to use him/her but only so he/she can get material benefits from the person.
A sycophant intentionally allows himself to be a pushover to one person. A sycophant accepts the ideas of that one person and continues to support them, even if he/she doesn’t think the ideas make sense.
He/she is simply manipulating the other person by allowing himself or herself to be shamed by the public. However, both people in this situation are in shameful positions.
The sycophant is playing the role of a leech while the other person is gullible by believing the other person is an actual supporter.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a sycophant is one who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential using flattery and servility.
Examples:
- What’s the point of a fan who is a sycophant?
- Stop being a sycophant. It’s annoying.
Obedient
‘Obedient’ is a positive word to refer to a person who allows himself to be controlled by another person or just everyone.
However, the word can still sound quite insulting if you emphasize how the person is literally obedient to everyone.
An obedient person submits to another person without thinking twice or doubting what he/she has been told to do.
Another positive word for this is ‘Submissive’. A negative word to use instead of this is ‘Servant’.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, an obedient person is one who is willing to comply with the commands, orders, or instructions of those in authority.
Examples:
- He is too obedient to join the rebellion.
- He is so obedient to everyone.
Sanguine
‘Sanguine” is the right adjective for a Pollyanna. It refers to someone who anticipates or is full of hope. A person who doesn’t say No to the ideas of another person may simply be sanguine.
It may seem quite gullible when a person appears vibrantly hopeful about something when there are several circumstances that should nullify his/her hopes. However, ‘Sanguine’ is a positive word to refer to such a person.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, sanguine means ‘Anticipating the best, being confident, or being full of hope.’
Examples:
- He can be very sanguine so don’t expect him to give you an opinion.
- She’s sanguine. She won’t say no.
Agreeable
‘Agreeable’ is the adjective for a person who allows others to go on with their ideas without arguing or understanding them.
An agreeable person is one who is quick to agree with the decisions of others. He/she is always willing to give consent to whatever is brought before him/her.
Irrespective of whom it affects or how bad it is, an agreeable person will simply ask the others to go ahead with their plans.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, an agreeable person is one who is ready to agree or consent. He/she may believe that your ideas are always better and will not try to compare them to his/hers.
Examples:
- He is agreeable so you don’t have to worry.
- Don’t be so agreeable. We need ideas.
Servile
‘Servile’ is the adjective word for servant. You can use this word for someone who is not just being treated like a servant but also submitting to improper treatment from another person or other people.
This word refers to someone who acts like a slave, allowing others to push him/her around without standing up for himself or herself.
Another adjective you can use to qualify a servile person is ‘slavish’. You can also call him/her a coward.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a servile person is one who is submissive or slavish. This refers to a person who acts like a servant or slave.
Examples:
- You can’t earn respect by being so servile.
- A servile person can’t help us here.
Compliant
‘Compliant’ is an adjective for a person who complies with the rules. While this is not exactly a positive word, it isn’t an insult and will not be found offensive.
A compliant person is one who complies with rules that have been laid down or with decisions that have been made by others.
This is the kind of person who may not submit his/her ideas or disagree with the opinions of others. Instead of debating to get the best idea, a compliant person simply lets the other person give the orders and he/she does as required.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a compliant person is submissive or willing to comply. This word is often used in reference to rules.
Examples:
- He’s been too compliant to see the faults in the rules.
- I am compliant with a legitimate government.
Submissive
‘Submissive’ is the word for a person who is quick to accept the ideas of others or poor treatment from others. When a person is submissive to you, he/she allows you to control him/her. A submissive person lets you tell him/her what to do.
He/she may submit no idea and would rather go along with whatever you say to him/her. A submissive person will be unwilling or not bold enough to stand up to you even when you treat him/her unfairly.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a submissive person is one who is meekly obedient or passive.
Examples:
- He was unnecessarily submissive to the thug.
- I tried being submissive to earn his favor.
Receptive
‘Receptive’ is another word for ‘agreeable’ and ‘compliant’. It is also very close to ‘Open-minded’ and is one of the most positive adjectives for qualifying a person who is open to receiving the ideas of others.
However, this kind of person is most likely far from gullible because his/her open mind is to understand the ideas of other people. A receptive person may also be quick to accept the plans of others.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a receptive person is one who’s ready to receive new ideas or concepts.
Examples:
- I was receptive to his plans at first but I found a flaw.
- He is always receptive at the meetings
Diligent
‘Diligent’ is a positive word you can use to refer to someone who doesn’t say no to a task or order. A diligent person is hardworking and gets involved with whatever job has been given to him/her.
Even when a particular task seems too difficult for one person to carry out, a person who won’t say no in such a situation can be called ‘Diligent’.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a diligent person is one who performs with industrious concentration.
Examples:
- He’s so diligent that he accepts every task brought to him.
- No project is impossible for him. He is that diligent.
Before choosing a name to call someone who never says ‘No’, you should recognize the situations in which the person doesn’t say ‘No’.
A person who doesn’t say ‘No’ to a claim or opinion can be called ‘Credulous’ (if he/she believes it without proof) and ‘Open-minded’ (if he/she asks to see proof).
