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
The couple shared a social class and a smug distrust of anyone outside it.
—
Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Its political class is smug, self-entitled, and has proved inept at improving the quality of the lives of Nigerians.
—Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But Minnesota, with or without its unapologetically smug superstar, has been the Nuggets’ kryptonite for more than a year.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
However, Ralph has a smug attitude when talking to Brad.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Its political class is smug, self-entitled, and has proved inept at improving the quality of the lives of Nigerians.
—Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
But Minnesota, with or without its unapologetically smug superstar, has been the Nuggets’ kryptonite for more than a year.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
However, Ralph has a smug attitude when talking to Brad.
—Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
-
A lot of people who are that level of arrogant, there’s also an immense insecurity, right?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The boy is arrogant, Helen thinks.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s fine because Wayfair has storage containers, utility carts, and decorative bins to get you back on the tidy track.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Overflowing with furniture and decor to breathe new life into your home and make any room tidier, there are so many helpful pieces worth buying.—
Ali Faccenda,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
South Florida sports history is proud to have been the host for Crump’s barrier-busting history.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The Big Ten is marching into the heart of Southern football with a proud swagger, daring any conference to challenge its claim as the power to beat in the College Football Playoff.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But the distinction may not be quite so neat, because the record is infused by Jesus, Christian imagery and matters of God to an extent that goes beyond easy symbolism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Some really poor defending at another Albacete corner was punished by a neat finish by Albacete substitute forward Jefte Betancor to put the home side 2-1 up.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Governments such as those of Spain and Italy demanded in vain the release of several of its nationals.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Some tribes in the region that traditionally hold First Salmon feasts to welcome the arrival of spring salmon from the ocean have waited for their catch in vain, forcing them to ask other tribes to donate a fish, Gobin said.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But Grande’s conceited blonde bubblehead gains in stature here as Glinda assumes statesmanlike responsibility to spread goodness in Oz, while experiencing crushing romantic disappointment that humbles her and deflates her vanity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Doing so will protect your trim, paint, and even nearby drywall from mold growth and moisture damage.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
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Work With the Home's Architecture Whether your home features curved archways, trim, or no trim, finding ways to soften the environment's natural architecture is another way Capra says makes a home feel warmer through design.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And women who foreground themselves in any capacity are often perceived to be self-important drama queens, or narcissists.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Jeffrey Tambor Known for playing the pompous, self-important mayor of Whoville, Jeffery Tambor also has an esteemed career across television and film.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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