Synonyms of complacent

complacent

adjective

kəm-ˈplā-sᵊnt 

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

• nonchalant
• casual
• apathetic
• careless
• uninterested
• unconcerned
• indifferent
• disinterested
• incurious
• detached
• perfunctory
• insouciant
• stoic
• uncurious
• calm
• numb
• aloof
• insensible
• cold
• callous
• pococurante
• halfhearted
• lukewarm
• tepid
• unemotional
• dispassionate
• insensitive
• lethargic
• remote
• listless
• heedless
• unfeeling
• mindless
• phlegmatic
• stolid
• impassive
• impervious
• unimpressed
• hard-hearted
• cool

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interested
• aware
• concerned
• mindful
• conscientious
• attentive
• sensitive
• warm
• passionate
• zealous
• keen
• ardent
• heedful
• fervent
• caring
• warmhearted

2

as in smug

having too high an opinion of oneself

a complacent junior exec who was certain of his indispensability to the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smug
• proud
• arrogant
• conceited
• vain
• self-satisfied
• self-important
• confident
• selfish
• vainglorious
• bigheaded
• egotistic
• prideful
• egoistic
• pompous
• important
• assured
• domineering
• self-conceited
• stuck-up
• cocky
• consequential
• overweening
• biggety
• boastful
• swellheaded
• supercilious
• snobbish
• overconfident
• bumptious
• self-opinionated
• uppity
• swaggering
• bombastic
• cavalier
• blusterous
• haughty
• snobby
• snooty
• high-and-mighty
• assumptive
• blustery
• uppish
• disdainful
• braggart
• braggy
• bragging
• holier-than-thou
• self-assured
• huffy
• self-confident
• self-assertive
• pontifical
• chesty
• pretentious
• high-handed
• toplofty
• superior
• fastuous
• presumptuous
• masterful
• self-centered
• imperious
• high-hat
• self-contented
• condescending
• peremptory
• lordly
• patronizing
• presuming
• self-asserting
• self-congratulatory
• lofty
• self-engrossed
• self-glorifying
• highfalutin
• self-dramatizing
• self-promoting
• self-adulatory
• self-gratulatory
• self-affected
• self-applauding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• modest
• timid
• diffident
• egoless
• meek
• self-critical
• unassertive
• uncomplacent
• unassuming
• self-doubting
• sheepish
• unpretentious
• bashful
• down-to-earth
• shy
• shrinking
• self-distrustful
• self-reproachful
• retiring
• introverted
• mousy
• self-reproving
• demure
• overmodest
• unarrogant

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of complacent

Former president Barack Obama expressed surprise at Democrats’ expanding midterm map at a private fundraiser Wednesday night, but warned donors not to get complacent about the party’s chances, according to excerpts provided to The Washington Post. — Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

California shouldn’t be complacent, but the state isn’t slouching on preparation, or resolve. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

While one team is obsessed with their new coach, Clemson seemed complacent. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026

But neither country can afford to be complacent in its lead in AI hardware, said Jeremy Chih-Cheng Chang, the institute’s executive director. — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026