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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complacence
Stuck here on the planet’s surface, our mundane perspective is rarely challenged, so seeing both our world and its lone natural satellite side by side is a rare gift, a jolt to our cosmic complacence.
—
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
This flagrant exclusion of such a win-win prospect largely stems from the aversion many environmental activists have of any potential solution that might lead to complacence on aggregate consumption.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
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
The campaign used Ivancie’s complacence.
—oregonlive, 1 Feb. 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
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
Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
This flagrant exclusion of such a win-win prospect largely stems from the aversion many environmental activists have of any potential solution that might lead to complacence on aggregate consumption.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
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
The campaign used Ivancie’s complacence.
—oregonlive, 1 Feb. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complacence
Noun
-
Clear bins on a bathroom vanity are ideal for daily-use items, which Wells suggests storing in the front, and extra or backup toiletries in the back.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The old icebox turned vanity is a gift from a friend.—
Wendy Goodman,
Curbed,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
To this one can readily add ICE agents’ violations of constitutional restrictions on the use of force, breaches of their own use-of-force policies when confronting protesters, and the unconstitutional disregard of Fourth Amendment warrant restrictions.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Outraged over such disregard for safety, even those who had held uneasy friendships with King cut him off.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s ego can take only so much criticism.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Time draws these kids osmotically through a membrane, turning them into things like us, adults captured by the brittle carapaces of our egos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Let’s choose forgiveness over judgement, kindness over indifference, and bridges to one another instead of walls.—
Chick Pritchard,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
-
In October 2025, she was handed a life sentence, the court noting her indifference to the consequences of her actions.—
Daria Tarasova-Markina,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Even when working within the constraints of Interior’s own misguided directive, there is an obvious exception that would apply to the pride flag flown at Stonewall, which is for flags that provide historical context.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Marie takes great pride in their work and values the opportunity to contribute.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, some on Wall Street continue to warn of complacency in financial markets amid affronts to the Fed’s independence, persistent nerves about a bubble and increasingly fraught geopolitics.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Weltman doesn’t believe that’s a sign of complacency or due to a lack of aggression by the organization that entered Thursday’s game against Brooklyn 2-8 in its last 10 games and eighth in the East during a season that came with high expectations.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite trariffs, military power, dollar dominance and presidential arrogance, isolation, America will triumph.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Adriana is immediately aware of his confidence—bordering on arrogance—but also senses potential chemistry in their skating styles.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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