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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complacent
Perhaps the Wolves get bored or complacent with the successful process and abandon it in favor of isolation.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
However, Chin-Hong urged Californians not to become complacent about the disease, as immunization rates have been gradually dipping.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The back-to-back Western Conference finalists have looked complacent at times, and Hyland has emerged from deep on the bench to give the second unit a jolt, the latest coming courtesy of 18 points in an important win in Denver on Sunday.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
But when onboard autonomy handles most of the work, operators can become bored, complacent, and less alert.
—Missy Cummings, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
However, Chin-Hong urged Californians not to become complacent about the disease, as immunization rates have been gradually dipping.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The back-to-back Western Conference finalists have looked complacent at times, and Hyland has emerged from deep on the bench to give the second unit a jolt, the latest coming courtesy of 18 points in an important win in Denver on Sunday.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
But when onboard autonomy handles most of the work, operators can become bored, complacent, and less alert.
—Missy Cummings, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
Adjective
-
While a warm, four-bar bassline chugs alongside dubby stabs and bouncy swells, BEA1991’s vocals switch from nonchalant monotone to falsetto in a way that sounds like an involuntary yelp of joy.—
Reid BG,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Glantz remained upright at his otherwise empty table, and his nonchalant noshing was caught on a CNN livestream of the room.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But the brand became the foundation for a global retail empire and reshaped American fashion with a focus on simple casual looks from khakis and jeans to T-shirts and sweater sets.—
Anne D'Innocenzio,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
-
Lluritu is a modern, casual seafood bar that's quickly becoming a favorite in the neighborhood of Gràcia.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Warnings, laments, and odes to renewal were expressed pictorially as dying days under bleeding heavens, belching volcanoes, proud icebergs, lavish rainbows amid spangling, mist-suffusing sunlight and dawns of peace and hope.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Simulation Academy at Yale is proud to announce the Graduation of approximately 75 students on Saturday, May 2.—
Simulation Academy at Yale,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
However, many thought Tilson Thomas too brash and arrogant to lead an orchestra, and, around the same time, Tilson Thomas fell in with New York’s disco-hopping crowd.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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