noun
complacency
kum-PLAY-sun-see/kəmˈpleɪsnsi/
Self-satisfaction that prevents awareness of problems or the need for change.
The captain’s complacency keeps him from attending to the leak.
Etymology
Complacere meant “to be very pleasing.” Pleasure developed into delight in one's own condition; in this sense, that self-satisfaction leaves too little concern for problems or danger.
In context
Don Quixote pursued his journey in the high spirits, satisfaction, and self- complacency already described, fancying himself the most valorous knight- errant of the age in the world because of his late victory.
More examples
- The warning challenged the team’s complacency.
- She refused to let confidence become complacency.
- A routine inspection exposed their complacency about safety.
Forms
complacency
complacent adjective — too self-satisfied to notice problems
Similar words
- confidence
- Confidence can be justified and alert; complacency is self-satisfaction that overlooks risks or problems.
- smugness
- Smugness is offensively self-satisfied; complacency particularly reduces vigilance or motivation to improve.