Words / C1

k-uh-m-PLAYSNT/kəmˈpleɪsnt/

Complacent means too satisfied with yourself to notice a risk or a need to improve — not a synonym for happy. Happy and pleased are ordinary contentment; smug is a close insult, while complacent adds dangerous ease. Grow complacent and a complacent attitude are the usual patterns, and complacency is the noun. In speech, too comfortable or resting on your laurels is the warning — never write “I feel complacent” when you mean “I feel happy.”

Meaning

Too satisfied with yourself to see a risk or a need to improve (not simply happy).

Examples

• “Do not grow complacent after one good test.”
• “One good mock is not a reason to grow complacent.”
• “A complacent board ignored the early complaints.”

Good to know

Too unworried to improve. NOT happy/pleased. Noun: complacency. Everyday: too comfortable / smug.

Near in meaning

smug

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