as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
a momentary complacency that was quickly dispelled by the shock of cold reality
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Recent Examples of complacency
Kings coach Doug Christie warned against complacency as his team prepared to face a shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers squad with LeBron James and Luka Doncic sidelined due to injuries.
—
Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Two weeks ago, the president’s social-media growling about higher China tariffs exposed a node of complacency among investors, who as a group had turned their focus away from the trade-policy flux.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
The seven-time national champion knows the highs of a winning streak can lead to complacency against lesser opponents.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Platner, a 41-year-old Marine with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has nakedly cast his bid as a battle against the oligarchy and politics-as-usual complacency.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacency
Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Two weeks ago, the president’s social-media growling about higher China tariffs exposed a node of complacency among investors, who as a group had turned their focus away from the trade-policy flux.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
The seven-time national champion knows the highs of a winning streak can lead to complacency against lesser opponents.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Platner, a 41-year-old Marine with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has nakedly cast his bid as a battle against the oligarchy and politics-as-usual complacency.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacency
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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This propensity for mental acrobatics, alongside his immense arrogance, was how Epstein rationalized his crimes to himself.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
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Using him comes across as arrogance.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complacency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacency. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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