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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregard
lack of interest or concern
someone who displayed a startling complacence toward his own financial plight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
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
-
Bathrooms are large, with soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and double vanities, standard even in entry-level room categories.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
Advertisement The 36th president’s fixation on oral care reveals something more serious than vanity.—
Jean Paul Laurent,
Time,
11 June 2026
Noun
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To then have individuals exploit that tragedy for personal gain demonstrates a complete disregard for basic human decency.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
-
For such a plaintiff to succeed, their defamation claim must meet a standard of actual malice — either knowing the statements were false or showing a reckless disregard for the truth.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Heightening the conflict is the fact that both the host and the guest are world-famous writers, each with a titanic ego.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
In an industry often driven by ego, algorithms, and short attention spans, Erving has become known as something increasingly rare, an executive whose reputation is built on showing up.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Throwing one’s hands up, in resignation or indifference, captures the anarchy that seems to characterize our digital lives.—
Roger J. Kreuz,
The Conversation,
5 Dec. 2025
-
These are not numbers that favor steady-as-she-goes indifference to the climate.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Though all eyes will be on North America, the national pride this event inspires – and the staggered start times that will allow fans watching back in their home countries to take in their teams during sort-of-normal hours – will stir incredible excitement and patriotism all around the world.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
From agricultural legacy, alternative modernization and pride in heritage, a lifestyle of independence and historical significance can be witnessed.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Talks would persist for the next two years, often in quiet, until the event that would shatter all notions of complacency toward the Israeli-Palestinian status quo.—
Jennifer Cunningham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Dec. 2025
-
But other countries’ experiences suggest that complacency is a delusion.—
Susan Chira,
Foreign Affairs,
2 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
His mixture of insecurity and arrogance was eye-catching.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
-
Early on, the client read his directness as arrogance.—
Luis Peralta,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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