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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complacent
But the government is remarkably complacent on this front.
—
Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2026
The old order is fraying not because Europe is weak or complacent or guilelessly reliant on diplomatic institutions, but because authoritarian powers are increasingly willing to work together to forcefully reshape the world order.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026
One theory is that complacent Republicans stayed at home.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026
Wambsganss warned her party not to be complacent.
—John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2026
The old order is fraying not because Europe is weak or complacent or guilelessly reliant on diplomatic institutions, but because authoritarian powers are increasingly willing to work together to forcefully reshape the world order.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2026
One theory is that complacent Republicans stayed at home.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Feb. 2026
Wambsganss warned her party not to be complacent.
—John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
Adjective
-
Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Margot Robbie’s understanding of the assignment is evident, her fringe frame coupled with a low and loosely bound ponytail (another hallmark of the nonchalant set).—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The ceremony has remained a smug political distraction ever since.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The podcast aesthetic—casual, long-winded, sometimes profane—directly opposes, perhaps not coincidentally, the sterility and bizarre right-this-minute quality of cable news, on which everything seems incomplete and therefore manipulative, and yet somehow endless.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The result is a smaller but more engaged core market — one that is spending more per household even as casual participation declines.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Quinlan is proud protesters have ignored MAGA supporters who have driven past, waving flags, honking horns and shouting insults during previous events.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Families gave their sons to the military and were proud to do it, and very worried.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Would the petulant, arrogant, all-knowing Donald still have started a war against Iran?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Your partner acts arrogant or entitled.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
