make me complacent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make me complacent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that something or someone is causing you to become self-satisfied or uncritical. Example: "The constant praise from my colleagues began to make me complacent in my work, and I stopped striving for improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But should that make me complacent?

Huffington Post

"Winning two Tours didn't make me complacent, didn't make me want it less.

The Guardian - Sport

"I turn pretty unemotional and I don't let victories make me complacent as well as not letting defeats get me down," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

The results might make me complacent, which would be unfair to my students, and would mean that I wasn't living up to my standards as a professional educator.

Huffington Post

But it won't make me complacent, but it's made me feel not so low.' 'From my point of view that's useful to know that 77 is not good, because that's quite a high probability, isn't it?

British Journal of General Practice

But it won't make me complacent, but it's made me feel not so low.' (II 119, 64 years, female) 'From my point of view that's useful to know that 77 is not good, because that's quite a high probability, isn't it?

British Journal of General Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It is the first week's shoot for our film of Richard II: yesterday, we chased the tide up and down Whitesands beach from dawn until dusk, and perhaps that experience has made me complacent about a scene that seems more manageable – the one in which King Richard hands his crown to the usurping Henry Bolingbroke in the calm of a medieval cathedral.

The Guardian

I think the relief made me a bit complacent.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It made me lazy and complacent because I knew that I was not going to fail.

Los Angeles Times

So today the global explosion of what you call "us vs. them" xenophobia not only makes me despair of the complacent elites who not only failed to anticipate it but also enabled it, however inadvertently.

HuffPost

Had I made that choice I am sure it would have made me a bitter, worn and complacent woman.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make me complacent", consider the specific context to ensure it accurately reflects the intended meaning. If the nuance you are aiming for is simply 'satisfaction', consider more precise wording.

Common error

Avoid using "make me complacent" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more precise and nuanced language to convey the intended meaning. For example, instead of saying "The positive results made me complacent", consider "The positive results led to a decline in my critical assessment of the data".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make me complacent" functions as a causative expression. It indicates that something or someone is causing the speaker to become self-satisfied and unmotivated. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make me complacent" describes how something can cause someone to become overly self-satisfied and unmotivated. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. While the phrase is relatively rare, appearing mainly in News & Media contexts, it effectively conveys a specific nuance of induced complacency. When writing, consider whether alternatives like "lead me to become unmotivated" or "cause me to be self-satisfied" might provide greater clarity or precision, especially in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause me to be self-satisfied

Replaces "complacent" with a more explicit description of the state.

cause me to become too comfortable

Highlights the feeling of excessive ease and security.

cause me to become passive

Highlights the resulting lack of active engagement or initiative.

lead me to become unmotivated

Focuses on the resulting lack of motivation instead of complacency.

make me feel overly content

Focuses on the feeling of being too satisfied with the current situation.

make me lose my edge

Implies a decline in sharpness and competitiveness.

make me rest on my laurels

Uses an idiom to convey the idea of becoming too comfortable with past achievements.

encourage my lack of diligence

Highlights the reduction in effort and hard work.

induce a feeling of smugness in me

Emphasizes the negative connotation of self-satisfaction.

foster a sense of stagnation in me

Emphasizes the feeling of being stuck and not progressing.

FAQs

What does it mean for something to "make me complacent"?

When something "make me complacent", it means that it causes you to become overly content and self-satisfied, leading to a lack of motivation or diligence.

How can I use "make me complacent" in a sentence?

You can use "make me complacent" to describe situations or factors that lead to a state of self-satisfaction. For example, "The team's early success "made them complacent", and they stopped working as hard".

What are some alternatives to "make me complacent"?

Alternatives to "make me complacent" include phrases like "lead me to become unmotivated", "cause me to be self-satisfied", or "make me rest on my laurels".

Is it grammatically correct to say "make me complacent"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "make me complacent". The phrase follows standard English grammar rules.