Complacent: meaning, definitions and examples
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complacent
[ kəmˈpleɪsənt ]
self-satisfied
Complacent describes a state of being self-satisfied or overly content with oneself, often to the point of being unaware of potential dangers or deficiencies. This term usually carries a negative connotation, indicating a lack of awareness or concern about shortcomings. People who are complacent may ignore important changes or challenges because they feel that everything is satisfactory, thereby risking their future success or safety.
Synonyms
content, self-satisfied, smug, unconcerned
Examples of usage
- He became complacent about his job performance.
- The team's complacent attitude led to their unexpected defeat.
- Despite the warnings, she remained complacent about the project's potential risks.
Translations
Translations of the word "complacent" in other languages:
🇵🇹 acomodado
🇮🇳 संतुष्ट
🇩🇪 selbstgefällig
🇮🇩 puas
🇺🇦 самозадоволений
🇵🇱 zadowolony
🇯🇵 自己満足な
🇫🇷 complaisant
🇪🇸 satisfecho
🇹🇷 rahat
🇰🇷 자기만족적인
🇸🇦 راضٍ عن نفسه
🇨🇿 spokojený
🇸🇰 spokojný
🇨🇳 自满的
🇸🇮 zadovoljen
🇮🇸 ánægður
🇰🇿 қанағаттанған
🇬🇪 დაკმაყოფილებული
🇦🇿 razı
🇲🇽 satisfecho
Word origin
The word 'complacent' comes from the Latin verb 'complacere', which means 'to be pleasing'. It was first adopted into the English language in the late 17th century, evolving from its original sense of being pleased with oneself. Over time, the meaning shifted slightly to signify not only satisfaction but also a certain degree of smugness and self-satisfaction, leading to a lack of awareness of potential dangers. The term gained a more critical tone as it reflected a state of uncritical satisfaction that could lead to complacency in various aspects of life, including personal, professional, and societal contexts. In modern usage, it is largely used to describe individuals or groups that are overly satisfied with their achievements or situations, often to their detriment.