complacent
UK: kəmˈpleɪs(ə)nt | US: kəmˈpleɪs(ə)nt
adj. showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements
adj. overly self-satisfied, often without awareness of potential dangers or flaws
The word "complacent" originates from Latin complacere ("to please greatly"), combining com- (intensive prefix) + placere ("to please"). Over time, it evolved in English to describe a state of self-satisfaction, often with a negative connotation of unawareness. The morpheme plac- (from Latin placere) is also seen in words like "placate" and "placid," retaining its core meaning of "to please." The suffix -ent turns the verb into an adjective, indicating a characteristic quality.
His complacent attitude toward his grades surprised his teachers, who expected more effort.
The team grew complacent after their early success and stopped innovating.
She warned him not to become complacent about his health.
Complacent investors often fail to see market risks until it’s too late.
The CEO’s complacent speech ignored the company’s declining sales.