complacente
/kõ.plaˈsẽ.t͡ʃi/
The English word 'complacent' is translated into Portuguese as complacente.
complacente is used to describe someone who is uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements.
Meaning: uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements (adj)
Which one should you use?
Depending on the context, complacente can carry a positive connotation meaning 'complaisant' or 'obliging' (willing to please others), whereas its primary meaning is being self-satisfied.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make complacente plural, add an 's' to get complacentes.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable. The IPA is /kõ.plaˈsẽ.tʃi/.
Did you know?
- Portuguese speakers often distinguish between complacente and acomodado. While the first can be a virtue, acomodado specifically describes someone who has stopped trying to improve because they are too comfortable.
- The word complacente shares the same Latin root as the English word 'complaisant', a term that has largely fallen out of common use in modern English.
- In legal or formal Portuguese, complacência can refer to a lenient attitude or a 'turning a blind eye' to an error, rather than just self-satisfaction.
Examples in context
- O Tom ficou muito complacente.Tom got too complacent.This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe someone becoming too complacent using complacente.Tatoeba #7154629 by Ricardo14, translation #5752103 by CM
- Ele parece conformado com sua atual situação profissional.He seems complacent with his current professional situation.
- Essa empresa se mostra autossuficiente, mas pode acabar se tornando complacente no mercado.This company appears self-sufficient, but it may become complacent in the market.
- Ele tá na moleza, não se preocupa muito.He's coasting through life, not worrying too much.
- Ele não pode deixar a peteca cair agora, precisa continuar trabalhando duro.He can't become complacent now, he needs to keep working hard.
- O sucesso o deixou complacente e preguiçoso.Success made him complacent and lazy.
Example conversation
A manager and an employee discuss the company's recent performance.
- MarianaFelipe, você está muito complacente com esses resultados.Felipe, you are being too complacent with these results.
- FelipeEu achei que já tínhamos batido a meta.I thought we had already hit the goal.
- MarianaMas ainda há muito o que melhorar.But there is still a lot to improve.
- FelipeVocê tem razão, vou focar mais agora.You are right, I will focus more now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “complacent” translations and entries complacente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
