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smug

adjective
\ ˈsməg How to pronounce smug (audio) \
smugger; smuggest

Definition of smug

1 : highly self-satisfied
2 : trim or smart in dress : spruce
3 : scrupulously clean, neat, or correct : tidy
Other Words from smug Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about smug

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Other Words from smug

smugly adverb
smugness noun

Examples of smug in a Sentence

Meanwhile, supporters are smug and righteous that the person who manages the world's leading stock exchange deserves every million. — Susan Lee, Wall Street Journal, 10 Sept. 2003 Alice Norcross Pratt, a local stay-at-home mom, is portrayed as smug and pious, yet we also see glimmers of her hidden longings. — Elizabeth Graver, New York Times Book Review, 27 May 2001 Once, Roy dared shooters to beat him with a shot between his legs. Now, he no longer passes out such smug invitations. The goalie who transformed the butterfly technique into an art form has humbly decided to keep his skates a little closer together … — Mark Kiszla, ESPN, 28 May 2001 She was tall and beautiful and multilingual and fiercely opinionated. One of her opinions held that the rags that passed for literary magazines on campus were so smug and tame and insular that it was hopeless to even try to reform them; they simply needed to be replaced. — Tom Perrotta, Joe College, 2000 It's OK to celebrate your success, but try not to be too smug about it. You can wipe that smug look off your face.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 The Edgars are thrilled — and a bit smug — about his success. — Nora Mcgreevy, BostonGlobe.com, "More than a matter of black and white," 8 Aug. 2019 To me, the most interesting idea in the book is one Beran only touches on: why some people could pull up from the smug, furious, post-truth hate that consumed 4chan in the last decade, while others could not. — Emma Grey Ellis, WIRED, "WIRED Book of the Month: It Came From Something Awful," 31 July 2019 Marcos, who’s studying to be a sports journalist, takes out his ID card with a smug smile. — Sarah Esther Maslin, 1843, "Rio is a riot in the early hours," 4 July 2019 Others snuggle up in their flannels to watch baseball on TV, feeling smug about East Coast players sweating in the heat. — Leah Garchik, SFChronicle.com, "The oddly specific experience that is summer in SF," 2 July 2019 The thing about the smug is that their karma can sometimes be sudden. — latimes.com, "Letters: Women's soccer team is on top of the world, again," 12 July 2019 Remainers are smug, not to mention sniffy about submitting to so much turmoil only to sustain the status quo. — Lionel Shriver, Harper's magazine, "No Exit," 10 Apr. 2019 There is something self-satisfied and smug about self-fulfillment. — WSJ, "Stockard Channing, Mickalene Thomas and More on Fulfillment," 5 Sep. 2018 The clip of Sandemann's smug smirk went viral, where it was met with immediate outrage on Twitter and an avalanche of negative media coverage. — Kate Storey, Town & Country, "Behind the PR Machine That Helped Change the Nick Sandmann Narrative," 25 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'smug.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of smug

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for smug

probably modification of Low German smuck neat, from Middle Low German, from smucken to dress; akin to Old English smoc smock

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More Definitions for smug

smug

adjective
How to pronounce smug (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of smug

disapproving : having or showing the annoying quality of people who feel very pleased or satisfied with their abilities, achievements, etc.

See the full definition for smug in the English Language Learners Dictionary

smug

adjective
\ ˈsməg How to pronounce smug (audio) \
smugger; smuggest

Kids Definition of smug

: showing a superior attitude

Other Words from smug

smugly adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on smug

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with smug

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for smug

Spanish Central: Translation of smug

Nglish: Translation of smug for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of smug for Arabic Speakers

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