complacent

[kuhm-pley-suhnt]

adjective

1. 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

2. agreeable and eager to please.

complacent

/ kəmˈpleɪsənt /

adjective

1. pleased or satisfied, esp extremely self-satisfied

2. an obsolete word for complaisant

Other Word Forms

• complacently adverb
• noncomplacent adjective
• overcomplacent adjective
• uncomplacent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of complacent¹

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” ( com- ) + placēre “to seem good” ( please )

Word History and Origins

Origin of complacent¹

C17: from Latin complacēns very pleasing, from complacēre to be most agreeable to, from com- (intensive) + placēre to please

Example Sentences

Alexander had always gone to great lengths to keep raising the bar for Stewart — whatever it took to keep him from getting complacent.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Just because we have reached this great step in conservation isn't a reason to sit back and then become complacent," he said.

Read more on Barron's

But investors shouldn’t be complacent about the latest Washington drama.

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Rogers said Canadian companies and policymakers have been complacent about underlying structural problems with the domestic economy, notably moribund productivity and weak business investment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Previously, the Public Accounts Committee criticised what it called the DWP's "seemingly complacent assurances that this reduction in support has had minimal impact on claimants".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• confident 
• happy 
• pleased www.thesaurus.com
• satisfied 
• self-righteous 
• smug