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
Market watchers said the increases are not investors being complacent, but fundamentals like the absence of major oil shocks and the expectation that easier monetary policy and AI spending will continue to underpin earnings growth.
—
Chloe Taylor,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
So why is Sacramento allowing cities to be so complacent in their fiscal reporting responsibilities?
—John Moorlach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Why did the Eddie Murphy who had positively ruled in the ’80s end up taking a back seat to a Murphy who was a far more complacent talent?
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
That being said, this matchup could still pose the banana peel head coach Mike Elko has thus far avoided if the team is in any way complacent.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Chloe Taylor,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Jan. 2026
So why is Sacramento allowing cities to be so complacent in their fiscal reporting responsibilities?
—John Moorlach, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
Why did the Eddie Murphy who had positively ruled in the ’80s end up taking a back seat to a Murphy who was a far more complacent talent?
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
That being said, this matchup could still pose the banana peel head coach Mike Elko has thus far avoided if the team is in any way complacent.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacent
Adjective
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What makes the shoe so appealing is its nonchalant, slip-on-and-go versatility.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
23 Feb. 2026
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In the campaign, Waterhouse and Ramirez are shown in looks that channel Saint-Tropez’s nonchalant chic, styled by Emmanuelle Alt.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Woods kept everyone guessing — a favorite hobby of his — with one word and a smug grin last week at Riviera when he was asked if playing in the Masters was off the table.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, a young Denholm Elliott makes for a delightfully smug Edgar Linton, and the underrated Angela Thornton brings to Isabella Linton a welcome sensuality.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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All sorts of messages, formal or casual, are more meaningful during the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in your conversation zone.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
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In a 2010 study, for example, the disparity held in both casual and familiar encounters, with ten per cent of women reaching orgasm versus thirty-one per cent of men in a first-time hookup, and sixty-eight per cent versus eighty-five per cent with a familiar partner.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Elsewhere, Jenna Ortega’s tattered Christian Cowan slip dress featured a thigh-high slit that would make Jolie proud.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
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Older brother Justin and sister Joi were also present and proud.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The history of classic Athens shows us that a Democracy can misuse its power, become arrogant and become a tyrant.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
25 Feb. 2026
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Maekar refuses, earning a cutting rebuttal from Dunk about the royal upbringing that turned Daeron (Henry Ashton) into a drunken coward and Aerion into an arrogant and cruel madman.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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