1
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the complacence of some of the rich kids at the exclusive private school
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregard
lack of interest or concern
someone who displayed a startling complacence toward his own financial plight
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 complacence
Stuck here on the planet’s surface, our mundane perspective is rarely challenged, so seeing both our world and its lone natural satellite side by side is a rare gift, a jolt to our cosmic complacence.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
This flagrant exclusion of such a win-win prospect largely stems from the aversion many environmental activists have of any potential solution that might lead to complacence on aggregate consumption.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Overwhelming military strength encouraged complacence.
—T.h. Breen, The New York Review of Books, 2 Feb. 2023
The United States veered too far in the direction of complacence after the Cold War, discounting China and Russia’s competitive potential.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 25 July 2022
The campaign used Ivancie’s complacence.
—oregonlive, 1 Feb. 2022
But the rise and fall of Japan's chipmakers suggests that leaders of the industry today have no room for complacence.
—Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 22 June 2021
His complacence is more nauseating than his weakness.
—Katherine Dunn, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
But surely there must be a place for civil disobedience and protest that is sufficiently disruptive to rouse people from complacence.
—Yochai Benkler, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2012
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
This flagrant exclusion of such a win-win prospect largely stems from the aversion many environmental activists have of any potential solution that might lead to complacence on aggregate consumption.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Overwhelming military strength encouraged complacence.
—T.h. Breen, The New York Review of Books, 2 Feb. 2023
The United States veered too far in the direction of complacence after the Cold War, discounting China and Russia’s competitive potential.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 25 July 2022
The campaign used Ivancie’s complacence.
—oregonlive, 1 Feb. 2022
But the rise and fall of Japan's chipmakers suggests that leaders of the industry today have no room for complacence.
—Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 22 June 2021
His complacence is more nauseating than his weakness.
—Katherine Dunn, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
But surely there must be a place for civil disobedience and protest that is sufficiently disruptive to rouse people from complacence.
—Yochai Benkler, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2012
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacence
Noun
-
Further forward lies a galley, lobby, and an owner’s suite with an office, vanity, walk-in wardrobe, and en suite.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The camera then panned to her vanity to reveal a Sephora bag — teasing her new holiday brand deal — knocked over with some items missing.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Michelle comes across as an outright villain at first, talking almost exclusively in chilly, insincere corporate speak and treating her employees with passive-aggressive disregard.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Parker has also been charged with eight counts of felony child abuse with disregard for life in connection with the shooting -- one count for each bullet that was in the gun, according to the Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on his Mariana Trench-deep roster, and the bench shortened by circumstance delivered a 77-45 win powered by a pair of true freshmen and a typically frenetic defensive effort.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
With Venus in your career zone squaring Pluto in your sign, power struggles or clashes of ego could surface, especially if others project their expectations onto you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Every shrug of indifference normalizes what was once unthinkable.—
Dan Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The amendment changes the theory of the case from reckless indifference to intentional misconduct, according to the family’s lawyers, which could raise the damages awarded to the family.—
Nikita Ostrovsky,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For those who do know him, the optics are less about political pressure and more about simple, unadulterated pride.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The 17-song record is composed of música jíbara, or Puerto Rican folk, a staple of the island’s musical and cultural traditions, and tackles themes of political resistance and cultural pride.—
Thania Garcia,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For Dimon, the danger is internal complacency.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
After a half-century in which energy was not a tool of statecraft, complacency set in.—
John Kerry,
semafor.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Using him comes across as arrogance.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share