1
as in nonchalant
having or showing a lack of interest or concern
the auditors were taken aback by his complacent response to their findings of fraud
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
a complacent junior exec who was certain of his indispensability to the company
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complacent
That fuss would, in turn, ruffle the complacent country club and horsey set, the church folk, and the Cavalier-mad UVA alumni who had never quite left behind their college days.
—
Deborah Baker
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
Becoming complacent leads to disengagement—a deadly four-letter word in the workplace.
—Richard Polak, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
The history of finance is one of the rise and fall of institutions, sometimes when managers become complacent or greedy.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 30 May 2025
But Vance urged the supporters not to become complacent and to continue to remain involved in politics for the 2026 election and beyond.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Deborah Baker
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
Becoming complacent leads to disengagement—a deadly four-letter word in the workplace.
—Richard Polak, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
The history of finance is one of the rise and fall of institutions, sometimes when managers become complacent or greedy.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 30 May 2025
But Vance urged the supporters not to become complacent and to continue to remain involved in politics for the 2026 election and beyond.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
Adjective
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Actress January Jones channeled Isabel Marant’s nonchalant French-girl style by wearing an oversized sweater and cutoff jean shorts to a dinner hosted by the designer.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
12 June 2025
-
The partnership marks a stylistic evolution for White, who previously channeled classic Americana and nonchalant cool in campaigns for Calvin Klein.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
The smug and sanctimonious tenor of their briefing makes that plain.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
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In a comedic twist, the Labrador retriever was filmed turning back to his owner during the drive, with a smug look on his face as if to boast about his comfortable spot.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Reservations are required for both the casual tasting and the picnic table.—
Katie Sweeney,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
Pair it with sneakers, sandals, flats, and more for a casual yet stylish everyday look.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Looking at her grandchildren’s interest in a Juneteenth parade, Wendy Kimble can’t help but feel proud.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
20 June 2025
-
That one small step was just the beginning, paving the way for a succession of shorts and feature-length films that have been proud to wear their sci-fi credentials on their Space Ranger sleeves.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
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In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Cowdrey was struck a painful blow by Somerset’s Adrian Jones the following week while trying in vain to lead Kent to the County Championship title and, brutally, his time in charge of the national team was quietly curtailed.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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But Simmons takes his time building his flawed character, who is soft-spoken in private, vain about his appearance and unfaithful to his wife.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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The men were very egotistical in this film and no one really showed up.—
Jeff Conway,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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In the upcoming film, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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From there, the team set about making Victor feel comfortable and confident as both a filmmaker and a performer.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
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Actually, confident isn’t extreme enough of a word.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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