What is the difference between the terms 'complacent and complaisant'?

Question

What is the difference between the terms &#x27;complacent and complaisant&#x27;?

Abbygail · Answer

Both derive from the Latin complacere ''to please,'' but while complaisant means willing to do something to please another, complacent means smug and self-satisfied, something that you want to avoid when you're on the winning team. COMPLAISANT -marked by an inclination to please or oblige. COMPLACENT - has the added meaning ''marked by self-satisfaction.''

English

What is the difference between the terms 'complacent and complaisant'?

1 Answers