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
But those smug computers obviously haven’t seen a shirtless Illini coach Brad Underwood and his Super Soaker squirt gun.
—
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Step 15: Label the Tupperware with its contents and date, feeling ever-so-briefly and beautifully like a smug Instagram tradwife.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2025
By the end, the film doesn’t feel subversively strange, just self-consciously campy and irritatingly smug.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2025
While the Duttons are just barely scraping by, the smug evil-doer is enjoying a warm bath in his mansion.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Step 15: Label the Tupperware with its contents and date, feeling ever-so-briefly and beautifully like a smug Instagram tradwife.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2025
By the end, the film doesn’t feel subversively strange, just self-consciously campy and irritatingly smug.
—Britina Cheng, Vulture, 8 Mar. 2025
While the Duttons are just barely scraping by, the smug evil-doer is enjoying a warm bath in his mansion.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
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Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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What’s something about the culture or food that still resists translation — something that doesn’t quite fit into a tidy tour explanation?—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Initially, the job seems straightforward — embalming bodies, completing paperwork, and keeping things tidy.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Christine Brown's 6 Children: All About Her Son and Daughters with Sister Wives Costar and Ex Kody Brown In December 2022, Christine shared a proud mom moment with her followers on Instagram, explaining how Truely stood up to a bully at school who was bothering her friend.—
Karli Bendlin,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the next two hours, jeweler and collector pored over nearly 40 pieces, separating them into neat piles.—
Andrea Chang,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
-
They can be enjoyed sipped neat or poured over ice.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And for any fan of the show — and Wilson’s over-the-top, egotistical Dwight — the lyrics might not be a total surprise.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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In the 1998 episode, Theroux, 53, appears briefly as an egotistical writer who flirts with Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw at a party.—
John Russell,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Folk Painting Many cultures have a folk painting tradition used to embellish furniture, cabinets, trim, and more.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
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Compared to the current model, which has EPA ratings of 227 miles, depending on trim level, that is a significant improvement, and one that could potentially draw customers into showrooms.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Not gaining admission to a BS/MD program after years of work can feel like a setback, but rest assured that your hard work will not be in vain.—
Kristen Moon,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Real celebrities guest-starred in often awkward encounters with the always vain and self-centered Miss Piggy.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
1 Apr. 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 2 May. 2025.
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