snug

1 of 3

verb

ˈsnəg 

snugged; snugging

intransitive verb

: snuggle, nestle

snug down for bed

transitive verb

1

: to cause to fit closely

2

: to make snug

3

: hide sense 1

4

: to secure by fastening or lashing down

snug

2 of 3

adjective

snugger; snuggest

1

a

of a ship : manifesting seaworthiness : taut

b

: trim, neat

c

: fitting closely and comfortably

a snug coat

2

a

: enjoying or affording warm secure shelter or cover and opportunity for ease and contentment

a snug cottage

a snug haven

b

: marked by cordiality and secure privacy

3

: affording a degree of comfort and ease

a snug income

4

: offering safe concealment

a snug hideout

snug adverb

snugly adverb

snugness noun

snug

3 of 3

noun

British

: a small private room or compartment in a pub

Synonyms of snug

Verb

• snuggle
• nestle

Adjective

• tidy
• trim
• neat
• tidied

Choose the Right Synonym for snug

comfortable, cozy, snug, easy, restful mean enjoying or providing a position of contentment and security.

comfortable applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or complacency as well as physical ease.

started feeling comfortable in our new surroundings

cozy suggests warmth, shelter, assured ease, and friendliness.

a cozy neighborhood coffee shop

snug suggests having just enough space for comfort and safety but no more.

a snug little cottage

easy implies relief from or absence of anything likely to cause discomfort or constraint.

living in easy circumstances

restful applies to whatever induces or contributes to rest or relaxation.

a quiet restful vacation

Examples of snug in a Sentence

Verb

the farmhand snugged down in the hay and proceeded to go to sleep

Adjective

The shoes were too snug.

These jeans are snug around the hips.

We were snug in the cabin.

She felt snug under the warm blanket.

The children were snug in their beds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

These women’s basketball shorts offer a balance between loose and snug for optimal fit and flexibility. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026

These aren’t the only wrinkle-free loungewear sets worth adding to your suitcase put-together but snug as a bug. —Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026

Adjective

Including setup for the frame and the remaining assembly for the sides and the headboard, everything took about 45 minutes to complete—though be aware that the upholstery was so snug that pulling it into place was like fitting a stubborn sock. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026

The aim is to ensure the fit remains snug and supportive throughout the shoe’s lifespan. —Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 May 2026

Noun

Front seats are cocoon-style and too snug. —James Raia, Mercury News, 1 May 2026

Smart design choices with wallpaper and art, plus kitchen cabinetry and bathroom-tile updates, keep this home snug in the middle of the last century. —Kristine Hansen, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish snygg tidy

Noun

short for snuggery

First Known Use

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for snug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• jug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rug
• rugg

Kids Definition

snug

1 of 2 verb

ˈsnəg 

snugged; snugging

1

: to settle or lie down : snuggle

2

: to make snug

snug

2 of 2 adjective

snugger; snuggest

1

a

: seaworthy

b

: trim entry 2, neat

c

: fitting closely and comfortably

a snug coat

2

: enjoying or providing warm secure shelter and comfort : cozy

a snug cottage

3

: fairly large

a snug fortune

4

: offering safe concealment

a snug harbor

snug adverb

snugly adverb

snugness noun