as in ingratiation
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Recent Examples of smarm
There is a ripe contrast between the smarm of Springhorn Jr.’s Theo and the squeak of Pinto’s Cohen.
—
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
At its worst, the earnestness curdles into self-congratulatory smarm.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 29 June 2024
Oliver brings in Matthew Broderick, playing himself with exaggerated smarm, who effortlessly breezes through the patter song.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
That barreling is assisted mightily by the two male characters in the narrative, who take turns maximizing smarm and misogyny.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for smarm
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025
At its worst, the earnestness curdles into self-congratulatory smarm.
—Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 29 June 2024
Oliver brings in Matthew Broderick, playing himself with exaggerated smarm, who effortlessly breezes through the patter song.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
That barreling is assisted mightily by the two male characters in the narrative, who take turns maximizing smarm and misogyny.
—David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for smarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarm
Noun
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Each chapter discusses a specific sales element, which includes such topics as goal setting, prospecting, ingratiation and listening tactics, empathy and much more.—
Larry D. Urish,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Ignore the sycophancy, slurs, and slop, and there is very little—but still enough to make one wonder.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
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As mentioned at the start of this discussion, the usual assumptions are that either the user tells the AI to do so, or the AI opts to proceed in that direction due to being shaped by AI makers toward exercising sycophancy.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to Gaiani, drinking or using drugs before social situations is a major sign that your teen may be using alcohol to cope with fawning and to feel more comfortable or confident.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In a piece for HoopsHype this week, longtime NBA agent Bernie Lee lavished praise on Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who blew Lee away during a free agent meeting last summer.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
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Republican praise for military action Texas Republicans broadly framed the strikes as justified and necessary, saying the operation projected American strength and sent a deterrent message.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarm. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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