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'Complacent' and 'complaisant' are homophones with a shared Latin root and original meaning. Both can be used for a polite or obliging person, but 'complacent' usually means 'self-satisfied' or 'unconcerned.'
Think of a complacent person as someone who is willfully ignorant, unconcerned, or overcontented, while a complaisant person is a pushover, willing to do whatever anyone asks.
Oct 11, 2021 · Complacent refers to being so self-satisfied that you’re blind to risk or danger. Complaisant refers to being willing to please others. “Complacent” is by far the more common of these terms, so it’s likely that you’ll need this spelling more often than “complaisant.”
Aug 29, 2008 · It’s easy to mix up these two words, but there’s a world of difference in their meanings. Complacent means self-satisfied or smug and derives in part from the Latin verb placere (to please). Example: He felt complacent about his excellent examination results.
May 31, 2014 · Both complacent and complaisant descend from Latin complacere, “to please, to be pleasant,” but they have acquired different meanings in English. complacent (adjective): feeling or showing pleasure or satisfaction, especially in one’s own conditions; self-satisfied.
The meaning of COMPLACENT is marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies : marked by complacency : self-satisfied. How to use complacent in a sentence.
Complaisant or complacent. The adjective complacent convey the idea of self-satisfaction accompanied by a lack of awareness of a potential danger. The adjective complaisant entered the language by way of French about two hundred years after complacence.
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Feb 15, 2018 · Complacent vs. Complaisant. Not only do the words complacent and complaisant have similar sounds, they also originate from the same Latin word complacere, which means “to please or to be pleasant.”. These similarities causes confusion among some writers.
Feb 10, 2017 · Complacent vs. complaisant are both words you use to describe people. But you use them in different situations. Use complacent to describe someone who is too laid back about something. And use complaisant to describe someone who is eager to please people.
What's the difference between complacent and complaisant? Complacent. Definition: (a.) Self-satisfied; contented; kindly; as, a complacent temper; a complacent smile. Example Sentences: (1) It arguably became too comfortable for Rodgers' team, with complacency and slack defending proving a dangerous brew.
