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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Plus, the casual dining setup makes life easy with little ones in tow.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
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In fact, even the full-size shuffleboard tables in the $100-$500 range aren’t built to last for more than a few years, which should still be enough for the casual/non-competitive level.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Trump then reissued congratulations and reiterated how proud the team should be of themselves about the victory.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Feb. 2026
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The vibe was loud and proud, and rightfully so.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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And ironically, the most arrogant ones are the worst ones.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacent. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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