complacency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complacency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling of self-satisfaction or a lack of awareness of potential dangers or deficiencies. Example: "The team's complacency after winning the championship led to a lack of preparation for the next season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The upshot is complacency about the past, though of a different kind.

The Guardian - Opinion

The relative complacency of the British, on the other hand, is also culturally determined.

The Guardian - Tech

Contrary to the complacency among Labour's campaign chiefs, until the last year – when Ukip was taking four or five Tory voters for every one Labour voter – in 2015 the Ukip share of the vote was higher in Labour-held seats than in Conservative-held ones.

The Guardian - Opinion

The United manager has even left himself open to the charge of complacency.

The Guardian - Sport

I am fed up with complacency and cronyism, and I'm fed up with the floppy-haired Eton club Richard Desmond The newspaper publisher is the owner of the Sunday Express, the Daily Star and OK! magazine, as well as Television X and the Red Hot adult channels, although he strongly rejects descriptions of himself as a pornography baron.

The Guardian

Justin Welby said foreign correspondents and war reporters were a "God-given calling to inspire others to serve our common humanity" and helped challenge people's complacency that what happened elsewhere in the world "did not matter".

The Guardian

That roughly paints a picture of history – Kilmarnock as the more prominent and successful club – but Kenny Shiels's men must be wary of complacency, their erratic form aside. Ayr have won the past four League Cup meetings between the teams and have bundled three SPL sides – Inverness, Hearts and St Mirren – out of this season's competition.

The Guardian - Sport

A Guardian straw poll on York Road, where at least four of the contenders have rented empty shops for the campaign, suggests that enough Labour voters plan to defect or stay at home to dispel any complacency.

The Guardian

More dangerous, perhaps, is the complacency or fatalism that a reliance on genes can foster.

The Guardian - Opinion

A survey by PwC of about 2,000 Britons found there is a danger of complacency as people's confidence in their ability to stay on top of their debts increases.

The Guardian - Money

George Osborne strained every sinew to demonstrate both that there would be no complacency in his approach, and that his plan must be allowed to continue.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "complacency" when describing positive self-assurance or justified satisfaction with accomplishments. The word generally carries a negative connotation of unwarranted or dangerous self-satisfaction.

Common error

Don't use "complacency" to describe a positive state of contentment or satisfaction achieved through effort. "Complacency" always implies a negative sense of being unaware or unconcerned about potential risks or needed improvements.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "complacency" is as a noun. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting a state of being content and unwary of potential issues. This aligns with Ludwig's assessment of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Sport

14%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "complacency" is a noun denoting a state of self-satisfaction, often with negative connotations due to a lack of awareness of potential problems. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's frequently used in news and media, serving to caution against the dangers of unwarranted contentment. Alternatives include "self-satisfaction" and "smugness", but careful consideration of nuance is crucial. Be mindful to not confuse it with a positive state of contentment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-satisfaction

Focuses specifically on the feeling of contentment with oneself and one's achievements.

lack of concern

Directly points out the absence of worry or care about potential problems or risks.

smugness

Highlights an excessive and often irritating sense of self-satisfaction.

lack of vigilance

Focuses on the absence of watchfulness and alertness to potential dangers.

indifference

Emphasizes a lack of interest or concern about things that should matter.

apathy

Indicates a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest, often leading to inaction.

overconfidence

Highlights excessive confidence in one's abilities, potentially leading to mistakes.

taking things for granted

Emphasizes a failure to appreciate or value something that is typically available or expected.

self-regard

Emphasizes thinking highly of oneself.

resting on one's laurels

Suggests ceasing to strive for further achievements after initial success.

FAQs

How to use "complacency" in a sentence?

You can use "complacency" to describe a feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble. For example: "The team's "complacency" after winning the championship led to a lack of preparation for the next season."

What can I say instead of "complacency"?

You can use alternatives like "self-satisfaction", "smugness", or "indifference" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "complacency" or "complacence"?

Both ""complacency"" and "complacence" are acceptable, though ""complacency"" is the more common spelling.

What's the difference between "complacency" and "satisfaction"?

"Complacency" implies a negative connotation of being unaware of potential dangers due to self-satisfaction, while "satisfaction" is a more neutral term for contentment.