complacent
Say it: kum-PLAY-sunt /kəmˈpleɪsənt/ · adjective
What “complacent” means
Too pleased with yourself to notice problems or keep trying.
More precisely: Smugly or uncritically satisfied, so that you stop making an effort.
Example: “After a winning season, the team got complacent and stopped training hard.”
When to use it
Use it when success makes someone stop checking or improving. It is critical, warning that confidence has become carelessness.
Similar words
smug, self-satisfied, lax
Where it comes from
From Latin complacere, "to please."
Quick check
You always pass easily, so you stop revising and assume the next exam needs no effort. How have you become?
confident or complacent?
Show the answer
complacent
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