Definition of complacencenext
1
2

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 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 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
  • What begins with the seeds of a vanity project organically blossoms into something that encompasses the many people Ryan’s life touches.
    Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Using information from witnesses and footage from Flock cameras, investigators identified the suspect vehicle as a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck with a California vanity license plate, Johnson said.
    Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, obstructing or resisting a peace officer and driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • These statements show a total disregard for confidentiality, basic investigative standards and the seriousness of ethics violations.
    Collin Corbett, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Critics would say ego, the desire to be an actor in the greatest show on earth.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The companies weren’t short of intelligence—they were overloaded with ego.
    Ricardo Bellino, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The building at the excavation was previously thought to have served as a prison, due to the shoddiness of its construction and its indifference to aesthetics.
    Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yet Jocelyne keeps hitting a wall of indifference from the military and authorities.
    Ed Meza, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But for all that pain, there was pride to be had on days that marked major changes in the country’s history, all launched from the Space Coast.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
  • For those who take pride in their pouty lips (or their ability to talk their way out of just about anything), a swipe of lipstick and nothing else is a cool way to look put together without the hustle of actually putting yourself together.
    Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • When leaders’ curiosity wanes, their team members often follow suit, which can lead to observations getting missed, complacency setting in and advantages getting lost.
    Brandi Watterson, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That’s the risk Washington is not pricing into its complacency.
    Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • What might seem arrogance in others feels merely reasonable coming from her.
    Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But while that might suggest arrogance, Dawson’s answer to another question reflects humility.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster