Definition of complacencenext
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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 His Finnish homeland, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia, has not been afforded the luxury of complacence. The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 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 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
  • Let go of the vanity metrics, and put your time where the value is.
    Heather Kelly, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Elsewhere, Prada made a case for vanity pouches swinging from belts; keychains were back at Tod’s; and at Giorgio Armani, models sported the letters G and A pinned to their blazers in homage to the late designer, who died last September.
    Scarlett Conlon, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • This shows a blatant disregard for the integrity of our borders.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2026
  • Their skepticism of government was fuelled by the disruptions of COVID and by perceptions of liberal hypocrisy and the left’s disregard for the member’s opinions.
    Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
  • Politics, Lander said, didn’t have to be a selfish endeavor driven by ego.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • But anxieties about growing diversity and rising indifference had convinced many Americans of the need to enshrine Christianity in the Constitution.
    David Mislin, The Conversation, 26 June 2026
  • But by rejecting a public bill signing, Republicans worry that Trump is indicating a level of indifference to voters’ affordability concerns heading into November’s midterm elections.
    Mary Clare Jalonick, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • There was no plan, no standoff between gang rivals, no battle for pride and respect at 10th and K streets, Mtula Payton’s attorney told jurors Wednesday.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026
  • Aside from hotel-quality designs, the bedding brand takes pride in their fair-trade practices and non-toxic materials, and has earned Fair Trade Certified and Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) seals.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • While high prices highlight vulnerabilities, lower prices foster complacency, delaying crucial investments in domestic infrastructure.
    Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Needless to say there was no second date, and, eventually though painfully, my own arrogance had some of its rough edges worn down.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
  • In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.
    Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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