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
-
Snelling recalled telling Carpenter, who responded with a rather nonchalant question.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
With all due respect to lace shorts, nonchalant track shorts are already the most coveted shorts of the moment.—
Tatiana Ojea,
Glamour,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Here, the feel is of a car-free village where guests and day-tripping locals can mingle over pétanque games, art galleries, and craft workshops, casual and fine dining cuisine, and rejuvenating sessions in the spa’s Iyashi Dôme.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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By pairing Eilish with Cameron in all the marketing, the hope was maybe that the film would appeal not just to concert fans but to more casual film fans who know Cameron can deliver a spectacle.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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The people are so welcoming and friendly and proud of their city And there’s great food.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
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After three years in the Eurovision wilderness, Romania makes a loud-and-proud comeback with a propulsive blend of nu-metal guitars, angsty melodies, and operatic trills worthy of a hand-horn salute.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Not even the pork choppers were as arrogant and scornful of voting rights as the current mob.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
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Of course, David went on to build one of the most illustrious careers in television with characters who are often arrogant, petty and unlikable by traditional media standards.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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