complacency
noun
com·pla·cen·cy
kəm-ˈplā-sᵊn(t)-sē 
plural complacencies
1
: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies
When it comes to safety, complacency can be dangerous.
2
: an instance of usually unaware or uninformed self-satisfaction
Examples of complacency in a Sentence
He sees a dangerous sense of complacency about the U.S. stock market—where investors were emboldened after the 1998 downturn was followed by a resounding snapback.
—
Bernard Wysocki, Jr., Wall Street Journal, 3 Aug. 1999
He spoke, however, with resignation, even complacency, rather than anguish.
—Harriet Ritvo, The Platypus and The Mermaid, 1997
… you say to yourself, "OK, why did it happen? Why did we make those bad engineering decisions we made in 1967 and 1986 with Challenger?" I'll tell you. It's the human element. And I suggest that there's a complacency there that comes from success.
—Alan Shepard, Yankee, October 1991
Tony Brace lived in Richmond, in circumstances of impeccable domestic content. Matthew and Susan had visited, in the early days of their marriage; driving home, they had mocked the décor and the connubial complacency.
—Penelope Lively, City Of The Mind, 1991
The public was lulled into complacency.
a momentary complacency that was quickly dispelled by the shock of cold reality
Bernard Wysocki, Jr., Wall Street Journal, 3 Aug. 1999
He spoke, however, with resignation, even complacency, rather than anguish.
—Harriet Ritvo, The Platypus and The Mermaid, 1997
… you say to yourself, "OK, why did it happen? Why did we make those bad engineering decisions we made in 1967 and 1986 with Challenger?" I'll tell you. It's the human element. And I suggest that there's a complacency there that comes from success.
—Alan Shepard, Yankee, October 1991
Tony Brace lived in Richmond, in circumstances of impeccable domestic content. Matthew and Susan had visited, in the early days of their marriage; driving home, they had mocked the décor and the connubial complacency.
—Penelope Lively, City Of The Mind, 1991
The public was lulled into complacency.
a momentary complacency that was quickly dispelled by the shock of cold reality
Recent Examples on the Web
The long-term consequences of ignoring curiosity include a culture of complacency, where employees feel disengaged and hesitant to voice ideas that could lead to breakthrough innovations.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Loyalty can risk existing on the same coin as complacency.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
My surprise bear encounter was a good reminder that complacency kills.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
In 2023, Haenel announced her retirement from cinema, citing the complacency and indifference of the French industry to the #MeToo movement as the reason.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacency
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Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Loyalty can risk existing on the same coin as complacency.
—Megan Feringa, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
My surprise bear encounter was a good reminder that complacency kills.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
In 2023, Haenel announced her retirement from cinema, citing the complacency and indifference of the French industry to the #MeToo movement as the reason.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complacency
Cite this Entry
“Complacency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complacency. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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complacency
noun
com·pla·cen·cy
kəm-ˈplās-ᵊn-sē
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