complacent

com·pla·cent

adjective \kəm-ˈplā-s^ənt\

Definition of COMPLACENT

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 1

3

: unconcerned

— com·pla·cent·ly adverb

Examples of COMPLACENT

1. The strong economy has made people complacent.
2. We have grown too complacent over the years.
3. We can't afford to be complacent about illiteracy.
4. … 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
5. 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
6. … 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
7. 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

Origin of COMPLACENT

Latin complacent-, complacens, present participle of complacēre to please greatly, from com- + placēre to please — more at please

First Known Use: 1760

Related to COMPLACENT

Synonyms

apathetic, casual, indifferent, disinterested, incurious, insensible, insouciant, nonchalant, perfunctory, pococurante, unconcerned, uncurious, uninterested

Antonyms

concerned, interested

Related Words

halfhearted, lukewarm, tepid; aloof, cold, numb, remote, unemotional; callous, hard-hearted, insensitive, unfeeling; calm, cool, detached, dispassionate; careless, heedless, mindless; impassive, impervious, phlegmatic, stoic (or stoical), stolid; lethargic, listless; unimpressed

Near Antonyms

attentive, aware, conscientious, heedful, mindful; caring, sensitive, warmhearted; ardent, fervent, keen, passionate, warm, zealous

Rhymes with COMPLACENT

adjacent