complacent

adjective

kəm-ˈplā-sᵊnt How to pronounce complacent (audio)
Definition of complacentnext
1
as in nonchalant
having or showing a lack of interest or concern the auditors were taken aback by his complacent response to their findings of fraud

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself a complacent junior exec who was certain of his indispensability to the company

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complacent Read more: 500 years ago, Machiavelli warned the public not to get complacent in the face of self-interested charismatic figures This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives. — Jeff Inglis, The Conversation, 28 Jan. 2025 That’s always easier because people start to question you but after City everyone was so positive then people start to get confident and complacent. — James Pearce, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025 Over Super Bowl weekend, fans worried that Kelce was being complacent and breaking his own rule about not going out and socializing in the week before the big game, the Daily Mail reported. — Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025 From quantum security threats to the upending of existing business models, the scale of change will be vast and, for those who are complacent, potentially catastrophic. — Bernard Marr, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
  1. nonchalant
  2. smug
  3. casual
  4. proud
  5. arrogant
  6. vain
  7. egotistical
  8. confident
Adjective
  • There’s a certain undone sophistication in my work—think bourgeois meets grunge, or couture sensibility with a nonchalant attitude.
    — Felicity Carter, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Hinged on nonchalant tailoring with whiffs of countryside chic, the fall 2025 collection codesigned by the husband-and-wife duo debuts Wednesday during Milan Fashion Week.
    — Martino Carrera, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of nonchalant
Adjective
  • But those smug computers obviously haven’t seen a shirtless Illini coach Brad Underwood and his Super Soaker squirt gun.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Step 15: Label the Tupperware with its contents and date, feeling ever-so-briefly and beautifully like a smug Instagram tradwife.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of smug
Adjective
  • Another element she’s borrowed from Prince is a sense of casual virtuosity.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Compensatory picks, while typically lower rounds are definitely underrated by the casual fan.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of casual
Adjective
  • Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2025
  • James, the proud dad was caught on camera celebrating the win like his own team had won the championship.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • So this kind of parallel can easily be drawn between Iran and other countries, [including those with] an arrogant isolation program, definitely.
    — Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
  • One of the targets of his reign of terror is arrogant Judge Stefan Mortensen, played by Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush admitted to the facility after being left partially paralyzed after a stroke.
    — Simon Thompson, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • The heavy nature of this defeat will end any title talk, but the reality check handed out by Atalanta must not be in vain.
    — Adam Digby, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Dangerously selfish, vain and proud, Wilde’s Salome is anything but innocent.
    — E.R. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of vain
Adjective
  • Finer says, tensely, that, at end of day, Liv savvy, Liv smart, Liv too egotistical to kill self.
    — George Saunders, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
  • There’s no egotistical rock star bullsh**t going on here.
    — Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
Definition of egotistical
Adjective
  • Leithauser left Dessner’s studio confident that This Side of the Island was ready to be released.
    — Frank DiGiacomo, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Coming off the back of a 7-1 win against PSV in the Champions League, Arsenal would have felt confident beating its traditional rival United, which has continued to struggle this season.
    — Ben Church, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of confident

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Cite this Entry

“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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