Confusables Entry 114 / 1011 60-second read

Complacent vs. Complaisant

Self-satisfied versus eager to please.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

We can't afford to be complaisant about our security measures.

✓ Correct

We can't afford to be complacent about our security measures.

More examplesii

01

He was so complaisant he didn't notice the bugs.

He was so complacent he didn't notice the bugs.

02

She was a complacent host, always asking if we needed anything.

She was a complaisant host, always asking if we needed anything.

The ruleiii

COMPLACENT = smugly self-satisfied with one's achievements.

They sound nearly identical and both relate to a person's attitude or 'state of being' in a social or professional setting.

Memory aidiv

Remember it like this

Complacen-T is for 'Too satisfied'. Complais-ANT is like an 'Ant' serving others (eager to please).

You might also like 6 related
↑↓Navigate Open EscClose All results →