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
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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
-
Xiarhos says this time around feels different because of a special new Massachusetts vanity license plate that benefits K-9s and their caretakers.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Accessories include vanity bags, bowling bags and thong sandals.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As elsewhere in Australia, disregard of Indigenous landrights triggered unrest within the Aboriginal communities, namely the Bindjareb people of the Noongar Nation, who had lived in the region for more than 40,000 years.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The exploitation of the American people and the blatant disregard for our well-being has reached unprecedented levels.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Drop your ego, keep the accountability, and focus on improvement.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In a curiosity divested of ego.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This moment was a turning point for him — despite his past indifference toward settling down, fatherhood changed him completely.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Would a cyberattack that kills people finally shake us out of our indifference?—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Kendra, for Joseph, for the whole family, wake up and repent of their pride, their feeling of the world is against them, get things right in their family.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
If festive pride persists, it is no longer connected to a country, empire, culture, or race, but the unique traditions of individual municipalities, pitted against one another in fierce but friendly, sportsmanlike rivalries.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This awareness prevents the complacency that precedes disaster.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
-
To Mitch Johnson, complacency is antithetical to that process.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More accurately, these failings are arrogance and incompetence.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Listen to Martyr Khamenei's words on why Islamic governments and nations must stand united and fight the US arrogance in the region.—
Steven Stalinsky,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complacence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complacence. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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