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

"I feel like businesses that don't reimagine themselves and don't respond to consumer behaviour, and perhaps get a little complacent, are the ones who end up in trouble," she adds.

From BBC

"Don't be complacent and keep the conversation between you going rather than thinking one of you is always right," the Sherlock actor says.

From BBC

"But at the same time, I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club."

From BBC

"How dare us have any kind of mood, or you can't be anything other than nice and sweet and kind and submissive and complacent."

From BBC

And that has led some to become complacent, rather than heeding the alerts.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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