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
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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
Why did the Eddie Murphy who had positively ruled in the ’80s end up taking a back seat to a Murphy who was a far more complacent talent?
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
This past summer, Mobley refused to become complacent even after his best season yet, coming off the heels of signing a five-year, $224 million extension with the Cavs in 2024.
—Mirin Fader, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
That being said, this matchup could still pose the banana peel head coach Mike Elko has thus far avoided if the team is in any way complacent.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
This is not the time to be complacent or quiet.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
This past summer, Mobley refused to become complacent even after his best season yet, coming off the heels of signing a five-year, $224 million extension with the Cavs in 2024.
—Mirin Fader, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
That being said, this matchup could still pose the banana peel head coach Mike Elko has thus far avoided if the team is in any way complacent.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
This is not the time to be complacent or quiet.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
Adjective
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Petite and low-slung, the armless silhouette and oversized pillow cushions feel nonchalant but not sloppy, and can easily bring some dynamic energy to more formal living room seating layouts.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2026
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Her nonchalant, soft-glam is so perfectly mesmerizing, my TikTok and social media feeds are flooded with tutorials trying to re-create her signature style.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But there’s a throughline in Smith’s most popular works — he’s been cast repeatedly as a villain, and usually an arrogant or smug one.—
Sophia Solano,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2026
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But that poem is no smug cliché.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The pair leaned in close for a casual selfie, sharing the beach day with her followers.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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Locking that feature risks alienating casual users who rely on free access.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Playing in this year's Super Bowl was Rockwall legend Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Rockwall community couldn't be prouder of him, holding a watch party in his honor.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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The Patriots’ defense, however, should stand proud after Sunday’s contest.—
Doug Kyed,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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He is paired with an arrogant young partner (Lou), a second-generation political scion whose personality clashes sharply with his own.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
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In the early years of his fame as a writer, Rushdie had something of a reputation for being prickly and arrogant, but Gibney’s portrait reveals a man mellowed by time and experience.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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