Synonyms for complacent
- adjective
Most common
self-satisfied smug complaisant self-righteous placid contented
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Self-satisfied
2. Gracious
Other
self-righteous, contented, placid, content, complacential dated
Definitions
- adj. 1
Uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.
He grew complacent as the years rolled on and the money rolled in.
- adj. 2
Unduly unworried or apathetic with regard to a need or problem.
He tried to paint his audience as complacent, yelling that if they weren't mad as hell then they weren't paying enough attention.
Related words
- Word family
- complacence complacency
Example sentences
- smug If you were less smug, you might have more friends.
- complaisant Tom is a complaisant husband.
- placid The placid water flowed under the bridge.
- contented It is true that he is poor, but he is contented.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| complacent | steady | |
| smug | rising | |
| complaisant | steady | |
| placid | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- smug1
- 6 letters
- placid2
- 7 letters
- content2
- 8 letters
- gracious2, obliging3
- 9 letters
- contented3
- 11 letters
- complaisant3
- 13 letters
- complacential
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (placid2 = 2 syllables).