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
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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
In fact, Martineau’s sign angered plenty of Democrats, some of whom were already worried that smug liberal activists are harming the party.
—
David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Perhaps the frustration this time will be mitigated slightly as EV owners feel a bit smug about eliminating range anxiety.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
There really was a secret cabal of the rich and powerful who committed horrific crimes, smug in the knowledge that their money and power would protect them.
—Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
And aren’t the organized terrorist groups smug and self-satisfied that their civilian proxies, many here in the United States, are doing their dirty work for them?
—Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Perhaps the frustration this time will be mitigated slightly as EV owners feel a bit smug about eliminating range anxiety.
—Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
There really was a secret cabal of the rich and powerful who committed horrific crimes, smug in the knowledge that their money and power would protect them.
—Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
And aren’t the organized terrorist groups smug and self-satisfied that their civilian proxies, many here in the United States, are doing their dirty work for them?
—Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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Jack Cutmore-Scott as Julius Beaufort, an arrogant new money banker at the center of New York society with an interest in Ellen.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Jean stepped out as Nia approached—lean and arrogant, a cigarette pinched between her lips.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The film benefits from its avoidance of a too-tidy, sentimental outcome, even if some in the audience might be left craving one.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
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As a professional organizer, my ears perk up anytime someone mentions the words ‘declutter’, ‘organize’, or ‘tidy,' in a conversation about productivity.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Central Texas has a proud tradition of producing and celebrating flavorful sodas.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The godfather of modern West Indian fast bowling shakes his head slowly, having been reminded what happened the last time his once proud and near-invincible team played Test cricket.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Keeping your garage, kitchen, closet, dresser drawers, and bathroom neat and free of clutter is all about staying on top of the mess by continually getting rid of items that are no longer serving you or your home.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
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All the flavor components of Caesar salad are wrapped in that neat bundle.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ugg Duffield Throw Blanket II The blanket is made from a buttery-soft cotton blend and has a velvety finish with a trim border around the edges that improves durability and prevents fraying.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
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Recall: Ford recalls 100,000 sedans for faulty door trim.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Dash, at any moment, may try in vain to dock again to change her fate.—
Leanna Renee Hieber,
Big Think,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Was Paul McLaughlin’s death in vain?—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The kooky characters surrounding Judge Stone included the conceited prosecutor Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), the imposing bailiff Bull Shannon (Richard Moll), and the idealistic public defender Christine Sullivan (Markie Post), each of whom had various quirks of their own.—
Dan Heching,
EW.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
17 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Like Muscle Man, Mixtape follows a self-important, inarticulate mediocrity on the fringe of a minor American metropolis.—
Robert Rubsam,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
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Their music provided a suitably self-important soundtrack as Great Recession-era artisanal hipsterdom faded into the careerist hopefulness of the latter Obama years, when Everlane minimalism supplanted lumberjack plaid.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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