Complacent vs Complaisant
complacent
smug/self-satisfied
complaisant
eager to please
How to tell them apart
complaCent = self-Content and smug (C = Comfortable, sitting still). complAISant has "ais" like French plaire = to plEASe, so it means eager to please others.
Test yourself
Which word fits from context? Pick one, then reveal the answer. This is exactly how the GRE tests these pairs.
Question 1
Grown after years of easy profits, the firm ignored nimble competitors until its market share had quietly collapsed.
Choose: complacent or complaisant
Show answer
Answer: complacent
smugly ignoring rivals after easy success is self-satisfied = complacent; complaisant (eager to please) does not fit a firm ignoring competitors.
Question 2
The waiter cheerfully rearranged the entire table and fetched extra dishes, determined to satisfy every whim of his demanding guests.
Choose: complacent or complaisant
Show answer
Answer: complaisant
"determined to satisfy every whim" marks eagerness to please = complaisant; complacent (smug) contradicts his accommodating behavior.
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