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

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

But investors shouldn't get complacent, as this is the point on the calendar during midterm election years that tends to get dicey. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026

Earlier in the afternoon, Becerra’s rival, Republican Steve Hilton, made the case that Democrats like Becerra were complacent in the face of rising costs and an exodus in residents. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

For years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, people largely appeared complacent about the fighting. — Dasha Litvinova, Fortune, 24 July 2026