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Serene vs Complacent - What's the difference?

serene | complacent |

As a verb serene

is .

As an adjective complacent is

uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.

serene

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Peaceful, calm, unruffled.
  • *
  • Serene , smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes. The clear light of the bright autumn morning had no terrors for youth and health like hers.
  • Without worry or anxiety; unaffected by disturbance.
  • (lb) fair and unclouded (as of the sky); clear; unobscured.
  • * (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
  • The moon serene in glory mounts the sky.
  • * (Thomas Gray) (1716-1771)
  • Full many a gem of purest ray serene / The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1818, author=(Mary Shelley), chapter=6
  • , title= Frankenstein , passage=A serene sky and verdant fields filled me with ecstasy.}}
  • Verb

    (seren)
  • To make serene.
  • Heaven and earth, as if contending, vie / To raise his being, and serene his soul. — Thomson.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (poetic) Serenity; clearness; calmness.
  • * Southey
  • the serene of heaven
  • * Young
  • To their master is denied / To share their sweet serene .
  • Evening air; night chill.
  • * Ben Jonson
  • Some serene blast me.

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) suffix.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fine rain from a cloudless sky after sunset.
  • Synonyms
    *

    References

    * Oxford English Dictionary. serein n. 1. ----

    complacent

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.
  • Apathetic with regard to an apparent need or problem.
  • Usage notes

    * (term) should not be confused with its homophone, complaisant.

    Synonyms

    * smug * self-satisfied

    Derived terms

    * (l) * self-complacent