become complacent with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become complacent with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone becomes overly satisfied or self-satisfied with a current state, often leading to a lack of effort or awareness of potential problems. Example: "After years of success, the team began to become complacent with their performance, neglecting to innovate and improve."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

We have become complacent with our model democracy, and thus sloppy in the execution of elections.

The New York Times

African teenagers, unlikely to become complacent with American comforts, see great opportunity in running.

The New York Times - Sports

Brees, the Chargers' second-round draft pick in 2001, cannot afford to become complacent with Philip Rivers lurking.

The New York Times

Mayor of Hordaland County council Torill Selsvold Nyborg said Norwegians must not become complacent with the responsibility of marking the remembrance of the Norwegian seamen.

The Guardian

They become complacent with what they already have.

Huffington Post

It's easy enough to become complacent with where you bank.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

As England became complacent with their passing, there were more scares for the England goalkeeper as Claire Rafferty almost turned into her own net from Wang's left-wing cross before the Chinese attacker miscued.

BBC

While my sighted friends were enjoying Batman and Spider-Man comics, I became complacent with hearing about them secondhand but never experiencing the stories for myself.

Vice

We can become complacent; we are so comfortable with our surroundings.

Vice

They should never feel like your business is exclusively with them – this will make them become complacent.

TechCrunch

"These figures provide us with comfort, however we must not become complacent in our mission to revive Scotland's economy".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "become complacent with" to caution against losing focus or diligence due to prolonged success or comfort. It implies a negative shift from a state of active engagement to passive acceptance.

Common error

Avoid using "become complacent with" when you actually mean becoming content or satisfied in a positive way. Complacency carries a negative connotation of stagnation and potential decline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become complacent with" functions as a verb phrase describing a process of transitioning into a state of passive satisfaction or overconfidence. Ludwig AI shows examples where it describes a negative shift in attitude or effort due to comfort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become complacent with" is grammatically correct and used to express a negative shift towards passive acceptance due to overconfidence or satisfaction. As shown by Ludwig, it frequently appears in News & Media and carries a neutral register. Use it to warn against losing focus or vigilance, but avoid confusing it with positive contentment. Be aware that its semantic impact implies stagnation and potential decline. The usage examples highlight that it's important not "become too comfortable with" the current situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow satisfied with

Focus shifts to the feeling of satisfaction as the primary cause of inaction.

become too comfortable with

Emphasizes the ease and lack of challenge that leads to reduced vigilance.

grow indifferent to

Highlights the development of apathy or lack of concern.

lose interest in

Focuses on the decline of enthusiasm and motivation.

become apathetic toward

Highlights the development of apathy or lack of concern.

take for granted

Indicates a failure to appreciate the value or importance.

become lazy with

Directly addresses the decrease in effort and diligence.

let one's guard down

Focuses on the relaxation of vigilance and preparedness.

rest on one's laurels

Specifically refers to ceasing effort after achieving success.

slack off on

Suggests a reduction in effort or performance.

FAQs

How can I use "become complacent with" in a sentence?

You can use "become complacent with" to describe a situation where someone has become overly content and stopped striving for improvement, such as, "The team had "become complacent with" their winning streak and started making mistakes".

What are some alternatives to "become complacent with"?

Alternatives include phrases like "grow satisfied with", "become too comfortable with", or "grow indifferent to", each subtly altering the nuance of the statement.

Is it grammatically correct to say "become complacent with"?

Yes, "become complacent with" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard structure of a verb followed by an adjective and a preposition.

What's the difference between "become complacent with" and "become satisfied with"?

"Become satisfied with" generally indicates a positive feeling of contentment. "Become complacent with", on the other hand, suggests a negative sense of overconfidence or lack of motivation due to that satisfaction. It is more similar to "become apathetic toward".