complacency
noun
com·pla·cen·cy
kəm-ˈplā-sᵊn(t)-sē 
plural complacencies
1
: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies
When it comes to safety, complacency can be dangerous.
2
: an instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction
Synonyms
- amour propre
- bighead
- complacence
- conceit
- conceitedness
- ego
- egotism
- pomposity
- pompousness
- pride
- pridefulness
- self-admiration
- self-assumption
- self-conceit
- self-congratulation
- self-esteem
- self-glory
- self-importance
- self-love
- self-opinion
- self-satisfaction
- smugness
- swelled head
- swellheadedness
- vaingloriousness
- vainglory
- vainness
- vanity
Examples of complacency in a Sentence
He sees a dangerous sense of complacency about the U.S. stock market—where investors were emboldened after the 1998 downturn was followed by a resounding snapback.
—
Bernard Wysocki, Jr., Wall Street Journal, 3 Aug. 1999
He spoke, however, with resignation, even complacency, rather than anguish.
—Harriet Ritvo, The Platypus and The Mermaid, 1997
… you say to yourself, "OK, why did it happen? Why did we make those bad engineering decisions we made in 1967 and 1986 with Challenger?" I'll tell you. It's the human element. And I suggest that there's a complacency there that comes from success.
—Alan Shepard, Yankee, October 1991
Tony Brace lived in Richmond, in circumstances of impeccable domestic content. Matthew and Susan had visited, in the early days of their marriage; driving home, they had mocked the décor and the connubial complacency.
—Penelope Lively, City Of The Mind, 1991
The public was lulled into complacency.
a momentary complacency that was quickly dispelled by the shock of cold reality
Bernard Wysocki, Jr., Wall Street Journal, 3 Aug. 1999
He spoke, however, with resignation, even complacency, rather than anguish.
—Harriet Ritvo, The Platypus and The Mermaid, 1997
… you say to yourself, "OK, why did it happen? Why did we make those bad engineering decisions we made in 1967 and 1986 with Challenger?" I'll tell you. It's the human element. And I suggest that there's a complacency there that comes from success.
—Alan Shepard, Yankee, October 1991
Tony Brace lived in Richmond, in circumstances of impeccable domestic content. Matthew and Susan had visited, in the early days of their marriage; driving home, they had mocked the décor and the connubial complacency.
—Penelope Lively, City Of The Mind, 1991
The public was lulled into complacency.
a momentary complacency that was quickly dispelled by the shock of cold reality
Recent Examples on the Web
In both racing and business, complacency is the enemy of progress.
—Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2024
Ukraine’s invasion of Kursk may shock the Russian leaders – and public – out of their complacency and disrupt the status quo.
—Peter Rutland, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024
In Martel’s eyes, the Argentinian upper classes are sinking in their own complacency like quicksand.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
Neal admits that complacency has occurred at times during summer practices.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for complacency 
Brendan Keegan, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2024
Ukraine’s invasion of Kursk may shock the Russian leaders – and public – out of their complacency and disrupt the status quo.
—Peter Rutland, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024
In Martel’s eyes, the Argentinian upper classes are sinking in their own complacency like quicksand.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
Neal admits that complacency has occurred at times during summer practices.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for complacency
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'complacency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near complacency
Cite this Entry
“Complacency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complacency. Accessed 15 Sep. 2024.
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complacency
noun
com·pla·cen·cy
kəm-ˈplās-ᵊn-sē
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