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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
His Finnish homeland, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia, has not been afforded the luxury of complacence.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 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
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
His Finnish homeland, which shares an 800-mile border with Russia, has not been afforded the luxury of complacence.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Mar. 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
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
-
The dresser has a classic silhouette with minimalist details like tapered legs and oiled hardware, and the mirror doubles as a vanity.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
That lack of vanity becomes the greatest weapon of My Duchess.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
If Maison Estelle is known for its wild interiors, popularity with the global entrepreneurial elite and disregard for dress code, the Manor follows suit with this beautiful and boisterous second chapter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
The rogues’ gallery of killers released by the Parole Board came with rap sheets often marked by blatant disregard for human life.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The deepest reason for this near-universal futility is that most of us remain imprisoned by the delusions of the ego, suffering from alternating cravings and revulsions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
This requires a different balancing of one's own ego, which in this context, is not self-confidence but the prioritizing of the collective outcome.—
Naira Velumyan,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Not necessarily devastated or depressed in the way people often imagine depression, but just a persistent feeling of apathy or indifference.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
The book is not science fiction, but a real possibility of the outcome of the global warming and our indifference towards scientific facts.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Signing Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Mattias Samuelsson and Power to long-term deals is also a source of pride for Adams.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Three days later, on February 12, community members joined to raise the flag again, and to date, the pride flag to stands outside the monument, along with several more smaller flags adorning the area.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Perhaps some will find this gentleness frustrating, and interpret it as an apologia for a complacency inappropriate to our angry, angular, activist times.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
Injuries and complacency were cited for the disappointing first-round exit.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Think about the arrogance behind that.—
Jovani Patterson,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2026
-
But his temper and arrogance were equally unparalleled, constantly leading him to argue with authority figures, from referees to his own managers.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
