1
as in arrogant
having too high an opinion of oneself
a winner who was so smug that he lost the goodwill of the crowd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tidy
being clean and in good order
the suburb's smug lawns and tree-lined streets bespeak a comfortable affluence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smug
Twenty-three years of a smug, smarmy host, and a bunch of sportswriters desperate for sound bites and attention.
—
Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025
There’s the divorced couple maintaining their relationship for their children; the happy and occasionally smug monogamist; the man who prefers not to commit; the woman who can’t decide.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 15 May 2025
To his critics, Jost’s smug humor felt noticeably anachronistic at a time when the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements were calling for a greater awareness of society’s deep inequalities, and for ostensibly liberal institutions to do better.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
The series has been characterized by smug antics in defeat.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025
There’s the divorced couple maintaining their relationship for their children; the happy and occasionally smug monogamist; the man who prefers not to commit; the woman who can’t decide.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 15 May 2025
To his critics, Jost’s smug humor felt noticeably anachronistic at a time when the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements were calling for a greater awareness of society’s deep inequalities, and for ostensibly liberal institutions to do better.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
The series has been characterized by smug antics in defeat.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
-
The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
-
In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Both Scott and Burns made tidy pars, Scott missing a birdie putt by inches.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
15 June 2025
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Hughes was on pace for 92 points before he got hurt, while Hischier scored 35 goals and drove stout defensive results at a tidy $7.25 million cap hit.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Congratulations to the Ninth Circuit, America is proud of you tonight!—
Martha McHardy
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
-
But while Boyle is proud of his influence on the zombie film landscape, he’s mostly abstained from watching any of those movies himself.—
Jake Kleinman,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Yet, this strategy stumbles when confronted with the complexity of human systems, where relationships and feedback loops defy neat separation and where interventions often yield unpredictable consequences.—
Dr. Alex Gold,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
To spend your days sipping Aperol spritz on your own private porch rather than dealing with crowds of tourists, a rental home is a neat solution that offers a more authentic side of the lake.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
The men were very egotistical in this film and no one really showed up.—
Jeff Conway,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
In the upcoming film, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
31 May 2025
Adjective
-
Like a true luxury model, the Genesis G90 has two trim options, which revolve around engine choice.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 June 2025
-
Loren, late 30s, who looked trim in a tan blazer and a flop of brown hair, began publishing fiction in La Prensa while living in Mexico City.—
Oren Peleg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Cowdrey was struck a painful blow by Somerset’s Adrian Jones the following week while trying in vain to lead Kent to the County Championship title and, brutally, his time in charge of the national team was quietly curtailed.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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But Simmons takes his time building his flawed character, who is soft-spoken in private, vain about his appearance and unfaithful to his wife.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
17 Nov. 2024
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Rory Kinnear steals some of the best lines as the conceited British prime minister, and Ato Essandoh, as Kate’s deputy chief, plays the ever-flustered man surrounded by extremely capable women with admirable humor, charm, and confidence.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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