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 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
  • The single-sink bathroom vanity had just enough room for two, but the massive walk-in shower featured a soaking tub.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The desk-sized vanity mirror features a sturdy silicone base with Mira, Rumi and Zoey’s faces on the bottom, alongside a tray for your hair accessories.
    Tim Chan, Footwear News, 28 July 2026
Noun
  • Trump’s disregard for rules and institutions is the reason his supporters love him, and this film argues that such disregard has disastrous long-term consequences.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • But even taken at face value, many appear upset at the disregard of rest.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • His alter-ego has figured out how to travel between dimensions by way of a large metal box.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 26 July 2026
  • Leaders must keep their egos in check by actively requesting and listening to guidance from their team members.
    Dr. Samantha Madhosingh, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • The parents were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in separate trials after prosecutors presented evidence of an unsecured gun at their home and their indifference toward their son's mental health.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • Absent communication often leads to assumptions of indifference or disrespect, eroding trust and fostering hostility.
    Alejandro Cárdenas Villa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • Plus, the constant convoys of soldiers driving in and out of the base just down the street gave them a sense of security and pride.
    Austin Fast, USA Today, 26 July 2026
  • Though it was legally banned and deemed indecent in the 19th century, Tahitian dance has grown to become an internationally renowned source of cultural pride.
    Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • But institutional longevity should never become institutional complacency.
    David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But not for the first time, Putin’s complacency led to overconfidence.
    Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • The combination of arrogance and doctored intelligence that led the United States and its allies into the 2003 Iraq War is almost made for Hollywood.
    David Faris, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
  • This psychological phenomenon explains why initial impressions can be so strong, leading managers to react differently to similar employees, seeing confidence in one and arrogance in another.
    Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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