Everyday · Character · Work & business
Complacent: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Complacent adjective. Smugly satisfied with how things are, and so not alert to danger.
How to say it
kum-PLAY-sunt/kəmˈpleɪsnt/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (PLAY).
Complacent in a sentence
Two easy wins made the team complacent, and the third match punished them.
Don’t get complacent about backups just because nothing has failed yet.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- smug
- self-satisfied
- lax
- unconcerned
Opposite:
- vigilant
- alert
Where complacent comes from
From Latin complacere, to please greatly.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
Don’t get _____ about backups just because nothing has failed yet.
- contumacious
- complacent
- pompous
Show the answer
complacent: Don’t get complacent about backups just because nothing has failed yet.