complacent
Americanadjective
-
pleased, especially with oneself or one's merits, advantages, situation, etc., often without awareness of some potential danger or defect; self-satisfied.
The voters are too complacent to change the government.
- Synonyms:
- untroubled, unbothered, smug
-
agreeable and eager to please.
adjective
-
pleased or satisfied, esp extremely self-satisfied
-
an obsolete word for complaisant
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of complacent
First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin complacent- (stem of complacēns, present participle of complacēre “to take the fancy of, please,” equivalent to com- “with, together, completely” ( see com-) + placēre “to seem good” ( see please)
Compare meaning
How does complacent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Someone who is complacent has become overly content — the junk-food-eating couch potato might be feeling complacent about his health. The literal meaning of this word's Latin root is "very pleased," but even though complacent people may seem pleased with themselves, we are rarely pleased with them. They are unconcerned by things that should concern them, and they may neglect their duties. A complacent person might be heard saying, "Ehh, don't worry about it!" — when there really is something to worry about.
Vocabulary lists containing complacent
Grade 10, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Not complacent; I’m content. I let it run its course, and now I have clarity to go do whatever else it is.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
Anderson added: "We cannot be complacent - our festivals want to work with partners across the city to ensure that Edinburgh is a city where everyone can afford to live, visit and perform."
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
But Woodburn said the UK had been complacent for some time about the level of threat it faced - particularly from Russia.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Meanwhile, they are remarkably complacent about risks from Iran or anywhere else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The second was Yale’s complacent refusal to accommodate its sought-after assistant professor’s request for a promotion to associate professor.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
