diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2e34072e..72443fcd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -127,25 +127,29 @@ Returns the standard deviation, defined as the square root of the [bias-correcte
 Methods for searching arrays for a specific element.
 
 <a name="least" href="#least">#</a> d3.<b>least</b>(<i>iterable</i>[, <i>comparator</i>]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/src/least.js), [Examples](https://observablehq.com/@d3/d3-least)
+<br><a name="least" href="#least">#</a> d3.<b>least</b>(<i>iterable</i>[, <i>accessor</i>])
 
-Returns the least element of the specified *iterable* according to the specified *comparator*. If the given *iterable* contains no comparable elements (*i.e.*, the comparator returns NaN when comparing each element to itself), returns undefined. If *comparator* is not specified, it defaults to [ascending](#ascending). For example:
+Returns the least element of the specified *iterable* according to the specified *comparator* or *accessor*. If the given *iterable* contains no comparable elements (*i.e.*, the comparator returns NaN when comparing each element to itself), returns undefined. If *comparator* is not specified, it defaults to [ascending](#ascending). For example:
 
 ```js
 const array = [{foo: 42}, {foo: 91}];
 d3.least(array, (a, b) => a.foo - b.foo); // {foo: 42}
 d3.least(array, (a, b) => b.foo - a.foo); // {foo: 91}
+d3.least(array, a => a.foo); // {foo: 42}
 ```
 
 This function is similar to [min](#min), except it allows the use of a comparator rather than an accessor.
 
 <a name="leastIndex" href="#leastIndex">#</a> d3.<b>leastIndex</b>(<i>iterable</i>[, <i>comparator</i>]) · [Source](https://github.com/d3/d3-array/blob/master/src/leastIndex.js), [Examples](https://observablehq.com/@d3/d3-least)
+<br><a name="leastIndex" href="#leastIndex">#</a> d3.<b>leastIndex</b>(<i>iterable</i>[, <i>comparator</i>])
 
-Returns the index of the least element of the specified *iterable* according to the specified *comparator*. If the given *iterable* contains no comparable elements (*i.e.*, the comparator returns NaN when comparing each element to itself), returns -1. If *comparator* is not specified, it defaults to [ascending](#ascending). For example:
+Returns the index of the least element of the specified *iterable* according to the specified *comparator* or *accessor*. If the given *iterable* contains no comparable elements (*i.e.*, the comparator returns NaN when comparing each element to itself), returns -1. If *comparator* is not specified, it defaults to [ascending](#ascending). For example:
 
 ```js
 const array = [{foo: 42}, {foo: 91}];
 d3.leastIndex(array, (a, b) => a.foo - b.foo); // 0
 d3.leastIndex(array, (a, b) => b.foo - a.foo); // 1
+d3.leastIndex(array, a => a.foo); // 0
 ```
 
 This function is similar to [minIndex](#minIndex), except it allows the use of a comparator rather than an accessor.
diff --git a/src/least.js b/src/least.js
index 53d470bc..a756abf4 100644
--- a/src/least.js
+++ b/src/least.js
@@ -3,12 +3,26 @@ import ascending from "./ascending.js";
 export default function least(values, compare = ascending) {
   let min;
   let defined = false;
-  for (const value of values) {
-    if (defined
-        ? compare(value, min) < 0
-        : compare(value, value) === 0) {
-      min = value;
-      defined = true;
+  if (compare.length === 1) {
+    let minValue;
+    for (const element of values) {
+      const value = compare(element);
+      if (defined
+          ? ascending(value, minValue) < 0
+          : ascending(value, value) === 0) {
+        min = element;
+        minValue = value;
+        defined = true;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    for (const value of values) {
+      if (defined
+          ? compare(value, min) < 0
+          : compare(value, value) === 0) {
+        min = value;
+        defined = true;
+      }
     }
   }
   return min;
diff --git a/src/leastIndex.js b/src/leastIndex.js
index 3abf9058..2cd7a931 100644
--- a/src/leastIndex.js
+++ b/src/leastIndex.js
@@ -4,13 +4,26 @@ export default function leastIndex(values, compare = ascending) {
   let min;
   let minIndex = -1;
   let index = -1;
-  for (const value of values) {
-    ++index;
-    if (minIndex < 0
-        ? compare(value, value) === 0
-        : compare(value, min) < 0) {
-      min = value;
-      minIndex = index;
+  if (compare.length === 1) {
+    for (const element of values) {
+      ++index;
+      const value = compare(element);
+      if (minIndex < 0
+          ? ascending(value, value) === 0
+          : ascending(value, min) < 0) {
+        min = value;
+        minIndex = index;
+      }
+    }
+  } else {
+    for (const value of values) {
+      ++index;
+      if (minIndex < 0
+          ? compare(value, value) === 0
+          : compare(value, min) < 0) {
+        min = value;
+        minIndex = index;
+      }
     }
   }
   return minIndex;
diff --git a/test/least-test.js b/test/least-test.js
index 531c78b7..34407df5 100644
--- a/test/least-test.js
+++ b/test/least-test.js
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ tape("least(array, compare) compares using the specified compare function", func
   test.end();
 });
 
+tape("least(array, accessor) uses the specified accessor function", function(test) {
+  var a = {name: "a", v: 42}, b = {name: "b", v: 0.42};
+  test.deepEqual(arrays.least([a, b], d => d.name), a);
+  test.deepEqual(arrays.least([a, b], d => d.v), b);
+  test.end();
+});
+
 tape("least(array) returns undefined if the array is empty", function(test) {
   test.strictEqual(arrays.least([]), undefined);
   test.end();
diff --git a/test/leastIndex-test.js b/test/leastIndex-test.js
index 472fcb03..407cb606 100644
--- a/test/leastIndex-test.js
+++ b/test/leastIndex-test.js
@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ tape("leastIndex(array, compare) compares using the specified compare function",
   test.end();
 });
 
+tape("leastIndex(array, accessor) uses the specified accessor function", function(test) {
+  var a = {name: "a", v: 42}, b = {name: "b", v: 0.42};
+  test.deepEqual(arrays.leastIndex([a, b], d => d.name), 0);
+  test.deepEqual(arrays.leastIndex([a, b], d => d.v), 1);
+  test.end();
+});
+
 tape("leastIndex(array) returns -1 if the array is empty", function(test) {
   test.strictEqual(arrays.leastIndex([]), -1);
   test.end();