complacent

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "complacent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is content with their current situation and uninterested in change or improvement. For example, "The company's CEO was becoming increasingly complacent, refusing to adjust the company's strategy to meet their changing market needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For me the lull before the storm was illustrated by the complacent attitude of the Federal Reserve's vice-chairman Stanley Fischer, in his question and answer session after the annual Per Jacobsson lecture – not least when he dismissed that great central banking veteran Paul Volcker's call for a more structured international financial system.

The Guardian

Like most top quality restaurants, it attracts more business types than gastronomes, but Beddington and her team are never complacent when it comes to creativity.

The Guardian - Travel

Nevertheless, as the Treasury Secretary reminded his rather complacent audience: 'The laws of economics have not been repealed, much less those of human psychology.' Between the lines of recent remarks by Summers and his predecessor, Robert Rubin, one detects serious concern about the US stock market, the ballooning US trade deficit and the dependence of the US economy on 'other people's money'.

The Guardian - Business

And even Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who cuts through so much of the monarchy's pomposity, is a hideous social climber who subtly becomes more and more obnoxious and complacent the more access he gets to the king.

The Guardian - Film

"The whole of British politics has been shaken up in a way that the complacent Westminster class could never even have contemplated," he said.

The Guardian

Then on the Serb's serve in what he must have thought were the concluding moments of his work for the day, Djokovic dollied the most complacent of drop shots a tad long.

The Guardian - Sport

Duvall signed off his tweets with a stark warning: "Can't be complacent".

The Guardian

Arrogant, out of touch, complacent and authoritarian, Labour is not Labour any more.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is cause for cautious optimism, but we cannot afford to be complacent".

The Guardian

While this is encouraging, history – and statistics – warn us we cannot be that complacent.

The Guardian

Cordi O'Hara, National Grid's director of market operations, said: "We cannot be complacent and will be monitoring the situation through to spring next year.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "complacent" to describe a state of passive satisfaction that may lead to stagnation or missed opportunities. It's stronger than "satisfied" but less harsh than "negligent."

Common error

Avoid using "complacent" when you mean simply "content". "Complacent" carries a negative connotation of being too satisfied and unaware of potential dangers or the need for improvement, whereas "content" simply means being happy with the current situation.

Linguistic Context

The word "complacent" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a state of being uncritically satisfied or apathetic. Ludwig AI confirms this adjective usage. It describes a quality of a person, group, or entity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Formal & Business

15%

Sport

9%

Less common in

Opinion

6%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "complacent" functions as an adjective, describing a state of being uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements, often to a degree that hinders progress or awareness of potential dangers. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is generally correct and widespread, with examples appearing frequently in news and media, formal business contexts, and even sports reporting. While it's important to avoid confusing "complacent" with simple contentment, understanding its critical nuance can add precision to your writing. Remember, as this analysis shows, complacency is rarely a virtue; it's a warning sign.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

self-satisfied

Indicates satisfaction with oneself, possibly to an excessive degree.

smug

Suggests excessive pride and satisfaction in oneself or one's achievements.

self-assured

Implies confidence in one's abilities or qualities.

content

Suggests a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction.

unconcerned

Not worried or anxious.

uncaring

Indicates a lack of concern or empathy.

indifferent

Implies a lack of interest or concern.

apathetic

Suggests a lack of emotion or motivation.

lackadaisical

Characterized by a lack of enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.

resting on one's laurels

Overly content with one's past achievements and failing to make an effort.

FAQs

How to use "complacent" in a sentence?

Use "complacent" to describe someone who is so satisfied with their current situation that they are not motivated to improve or take necessary action. For example, "The team grew "complacent" after their initial success, leading to a series of defeats".

What can I say instead of "complacent"?

You can use alternatives like "self-satisfied", "smug", or "indifferent" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean to be "complacent"?

To be "complacent" means to be uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements to a degree that prevents self-improvement or awareness of potential problems. It often implies a negative connotation of being unaware or unconcerned about potential risks or necessary changes.

Which is correct, "confident" or "complacent"?

"Confident" and "complacent" are not interchangeable. "Confident" implies a healthy belief in one's abilities, while "complacent" suggests an excessive and often unwarranted satisfaction that can lead to inaction or vulnerability.