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
If the Trump administration’s big stick provokes a complacent Harvard into seeking more independence, that will be a good thing.
—
Amity Shlaes, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
Although Microsoft users are more used to being on the receiving end of warnings about password compromise attacks, that doesn’t mean that Apple fans can be complacent.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
However, international students are our students and remaining complacent as their perspectives are brutally suppressed and they are dragged away from our campuses—which should serve as safe, nurturing spaces for intellectual exchange and political criticism—harms us all.
—Susan Thomas, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
At a time when Villa could have been complacent, McGinn was at his scrapping best, picking the pockets of players outside the box and squaring for Leon Bailey.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Amity Shlaes, National Review, 28 Apr. 2025
Although Microsoft users are more used to being on the receiving end of warnings about password compromise attacks, that doesn’t mean that Apple fans can be complacent.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
However, international students are our students and remaining complacent as their perspectives are brutally suppressed and they are dragged away from our campuses—which should serve as safe, nurturing spaces for intellectual exchange and political criticism—harms us all.
—Susan Thomas, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
At a time when Villa could have been complacent, McGinn was at his scrapping best, picking the pockets of players outside the box and squaring for Leon Bailey.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
Adjective
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The season’s top accessories reflect summer’s playful attitude with capsules and designs that balance nonchalant ease with an energetic and joyful spirit.—
Madeline Fass,
Vogue,
3 June 2025
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In fact, Hope’s own nonchalant attitude inspired her to share the truth.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Twenty-three years of a smug, smarmy host, and a bunch of sportswriters desperate for sound bites and attention.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
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There’s the divorced couple maintaining their relationship for their children; the happy and occasionally smug monogamist; the man who prefers not to commit; the woman who can’t decide.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Born from old coffee bean bags, the canvas fabric stood out on the runway, crafted as a casual option for hanging close to shorelines.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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The woman’s friend and the casual man spend time every few weeks, play pool, and text daily.—
Stephanie Guerilus,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Their many successes and proud history are well known, so there are plenty of arguments to support Madrid in this competition… and also to want anyone but them to win it.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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For a bit of old soul Florida, head to Everglades City, a proud frontier town in subtropical swamp wilderness.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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Richard was known for being outspoken, if not arrogant, consistently rubbing his Tagi tribe the wrong way and offending some of them with his blatant display of nudity on the island.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
-
Multiple people described him to me as unpopular and arrogant.—
Amanda Chicago Lewis,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Yet rather than call a tow truck, the Steelers are revving the engine in the hopes their tires don’t spin in vain but find a little grip amid all that mud.—
Will Graves,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2025
-
Arena, like the adjacent club called Circus, was established by a couple of gay and Latino entrepreneurs as open-to-everyone party spaces — a radical departure during an era when discos were defined more by the vulgar discrimination of velvet ropes and vain bouncers policing entry.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Sid Justice, though competent in other matches, is given few opportunities to prove himself as a rising star against the notoriously egotistical Hogan.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
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And for any fan of the show — and Wilson’s over-the-top, egotistical Dwight — the lyrics might not be a total surprise.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But negative feelings are running high across all sectors; the most confident sector in April was construction, and that was down nearly 4 points from January.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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Sounding relaxed and confident, Arnault kicked off a 30-minute conversation with high praise for Chiuri, whose engaging narratives, graceful designs and merchandising prowess quadrupled the size of Dior, according to HSBC estimates.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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