complacent
adjective
com·pla·cent
kəm-ˈplā-sᵊnt 
1
: marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies : marked by complacency : self-satisfied
a complacent smile
2
: complaisant sense 1
complacent flattery
3
complacently
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of complacent in a Sentence
… I gazed at my mother's poised, beautiful profile as her face turned from side to side, calm or complacent, accepting what the route offered.
—
Donald Hall, Atlantic, October 1996
Mr. Davis organized his second great quintet in the mid-60's, but by then jazz had taken a new turn and many felt he had become passé, a complacent peacock.
—Gary Giddins, New York Times Book Review, 15 Oct. 1989
… he hopes to break through the reader's complacent indifference, make him aware of his predicament, and force him to take sides.
—Monroe K. Spears, American Ambitions, 1987
Lord Lathkill … was so completely unostentatious, so very willing to pay all the attention to me, and yet so subtly complacent, so unquestionably sure of his position.
—D. H. Lawrence, The Complete Short Stories Volume III, (1922) 1981
The strong economy has made people complacent.
We have grown too complacent over the years.
We can't afford to be complacent about illiteracy.
Donald Hall, Atlantic, October 1996
Mr. Davis organized his second great quintet in the mid-60's, but by then jazz had taken a new turn and many felt he had become passé, a complacent peacock.
—Gary Giddins, New York Times Book Review, 15 Oct. 1989
… he hopes to break through the reader's complacent indifference, make him aware of his predicament, and force him to take sides.
—Monroe K. Spears, American Ambitions, 1987
Lord Lathkill … was so completely unostentatious, so very willing to pay all the attention to me, and yet so subtly complacent, so unquestionably sure of his position.
—D. H. Lawrence, The Complete Short Stories Volume III, (1922) 1981
The strong economy has made people complacent.
We have grown too complacent over the years.
We can't afford to be complacent about illiteracy.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Cowboys’ front office has grown complacent for decades, thanks in large part to the owner and general manager title being held by the same person.
—Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
There is a sense that President Donald Trump will face less resistance during his second term, that activists are tired, that the country is complacent.
—Chase Strangio, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
And voters’ belief that its beneficiaries are complacent elitists skilled only in symbolic victory can no longer be blamed on brainwashing by right-wing media.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
But airlines, aircraft manufacturers, regulatory agencies and the flying public cannot be complacent in the face of the highest flight death total in six years.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for complacent 
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Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
There is a sense that President Donald Trump will face less resistance during his second term, that activists are tired, that the country is complacent.
—Chase Strangio, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
And voters’ belief that its beneficiaries are complacent elitists skilled only in symbolic victory can no longer be blamed on brainwashing by right-wing media.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
But airlines, aircraft manufacturers, regulatory agencies and the flying public cannot be complacent in the face of the highest flight death total in six years.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for complacent
Articles Related to complacent
Dictionary Entries Near complacent
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complacent. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
complacent
adjective
com·pla·cent
kəm-ˈplās-ᵊnt
1
: marked by complacency : self-satisfied
a complacent smile
2
: feeling or showing complaisance
complacently
adverb
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