different between careless vs complacent

English

Etymology

From Middle English careles, from Old English carl?as (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”), equivalent to care +? -less. Cognate with Icelandic kærulaus (“careless, negligent”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k??l?s/, /?k??l?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k??l?s/
• Rhymes: -??(?)l?s

Adjective

careless (comparative more careless, superlative most careless)

1. Not concerned or worried (about). [from 11^thc.]

   • "He was here," observed Drina composedly, "and father was angry with him."
     "What?" exclaimed Eileen. "When?"
     "This morning, before father went downtown."
     Both Selwyn and Lansing cut in coolly, dismissing the matter with a careless word or two; and coffee was served—cambric tea in Drina's case.

2. Not giving sufficient attention or thought, especially concerning the avoidance of harm or mistakes. [from 16^thc.]
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 49:

     I don't find the pose of careless youth charming and engaging any more than you find the pose of careworn age fascinating and eccentric, I should imagine.

3. (archaic) Free from care; unworried, without anxiety. [from 11^thc.]

   • Good-humored, easy, and careless, he presided over his whale-boat as if the most deadly encounter were but a dinner, and his crew all invited guests.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:careless

Derived terms

• carelessly
• carelessness

Translations

Anagrams

• acreless, raceless, rescales

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin complac?ns (“very pleasing”), present participle of complac?re (“to please at the same time, be very pleasing”), from com- (“together”) + plac?re (“to please”); see please and compare complaisant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/
• Homophone: complaisant

Adjective

complacent (comparative more complacent, superlative most complacent)

1. Uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.
2. Apathetic with regard to an apparent need or problem.

Usage notes

• Complacent should not be confused with its homophone, complaisant.

Synonyms

• smug
• self-satisfied

Derived terms

• complacently
• self-complacent

Related terms

• complacence
• complacency

Translations

Further reading

• complacent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• complacent in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Latin

Verb

complacent

1. third-person plural present active indicative of complace?