Legal Writing

Complacent, Complaisant

By Sharon

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.

Complaisant, on the other hand, means eager to please or obliging.  An example of its use is:

He had thought she might oppose him, but found that she was surprisingly complaisant.

Complacent, Complaisant

Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on August 29, 2008 (boomark / email).