Choose from the options nearest in meaning to the word underlined.While the hooligans exchanged blows, we looked complacently?
Answer Details
The word "complacently" means feeling satisfied with oneself's achievements or situation to the point of not caring about potential problems or criticisms. Therefore, out of the options given, the word that comes closest in meaning to "complacently" is "contentedly."
In the given sentence, the speaker seems to be observing a fight between hooligans, but instead of being concerned about the violence, they feel satisfied with their own safety and are not bothered by the situation. Hence, the appropriate word to use would be "complacently," indicating a sense of smugness or self-satisfaction.