1
as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the complacence of some of the rich kids at the exclusive private school
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregard
lack of interest or concern
someone who displayed a startling complacence toward his own financial plight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complacence
But surely there must be a place for civil disobedience and protest that is sufficiently disruptive to rouse people from complacence.
—
Yochai Benkler, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2012
The campaign used Ivancie’s complacence.
—oregonlive, 1 Feb. 2022
Overwhelming military strength encouraged complacence.
—T.h. Breen, The New York Review of Books, 2 Feb. 2023
The United States veered too far in the direction of complacence after the Cold War, discounting China and Russia’s competitive potential.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 25 July 2022
But the rise and fall of Japan's chipmakers suggests that leaders of the industry today have no room for complacence.
—Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 22 June 2021
His complacence is more nauseating than his weakness.
—Katherine Dunn, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
There's been a lot of years of complacence from a lot of people who thought everything was OK but weren't really listening to what was going on and what wasn't OK.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2019
That sort of complacence doesn't cut it with consumers in China, where the big three telecom providers are expected to roll out 5G networks in most major cities by the end of this year.
—Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2019
Yochai Benkler, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2012
The campaign used Ivancie’s complacence.
—oregonlive, 1 Feb. 2022
Overwhelming military strength encouraged complacence.
—T.h. Breen, The New York Review of Books, 2 Feb. 2023
The United States veered too far in the direction of complacence after the Cold War, discounting China and Russia’s competitive potential.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 25 July 2022
But the rise and fall of Japan's chipmakers suggests that leaders of the industry today have no room for complacence.
—Eamon Barrett, Fortune, 22 June 2021
His complacence is more nauseating than his weakness.
—Katherine Dunn, The New Yorker, 4 May 2020
There's been a lot of years of complacence from a lot of people who thought everything was OK but weren't really listening to what was going on and what wasn't OK.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2019
That sort of complacence doesn't cut it with consumers in China, where the big three telecom providers are expected to roll out 5G networks in most major cities by the end of this year.
—Aaron Pressman, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacence
Noun
-
The result is an almost weary vanity, in which the author plays himself as if under duress, simultaneously flourishing and folding up the self.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
Its offerings—face oils, supplements, vitamin treatments, and serums—reflect a holistic approach to skincare, treating the skin as an organ and prioritizing health over vanity.—
Ian Malone,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
That charge was later dropped to operating a vehicle with wanton disregard, for which he was fined $250.—
Sharon Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
3 July 2025
-
All three movies are packed with dinosaurs—dinosaurs running, dinosaurs being sad and winsome, dinosaurs showing ruthless disregard for human life.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Our state and federal politicians must insist on order and basic due process in ICE’s performance of its duties, not the chaos and confusion inherent in playing up to Trump’s enormous ego, tiny vocabulary and constantly flip-flopping orders, statements and media posts.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2025
-
These are the sorts of fantasies that cultivate the delicate, fledgling egos of the inexperienced, giving them enough hope, whether about their good fortune or their capacity to aestheticize bad fortune, to continue into the uncertain future.—
Book Marks
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Soliman, a 45-year-old from Egypt, is now facing two first-degree murder charges – one for extreme indifference and the other with intent and after deliberation, the district attorney’s office said.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
30 June 2025
-
The first count is first-degree murder under an extreme indifference theory and the second count is first-degree murder with intent after deliberation.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
But much to the couple’s pride and relief, the crash didn’t pull the family apart.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 July 2025
-
The Children’s Village offers hands-on activities, storytelling, games and crafts that inspire cultural pride.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
One week later, serious questions remain about what actions local leaders took after ominous warnings from the National Weather Service, echoing other recent high-profile natural disasters marked by accusations of government complacency.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
12 July 2025
-
Of course, the line between confidence and complacency can be a thin one for investors.—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
This silliness, the silliness of his arrogance, was actually funny to me.—
Ottessa Moshfegh,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
On the dark side, however, Mercury in Leo can spark moments of arrogance and stubbornness.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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