smug

adjective

ˈsməg How to pronounce smug (audio)
Definition of smugnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smug Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026 Federer, especially—unperturbed, smug, highly punchable—seems to have brought an almost martyr-like tenacity out of Nadal. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 June 2026 Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
  1. arrogant
  2. tidy
  3. proud
  4. neat
  5. conceited
  6. trim
  7. self-important
  8. complacent
Adjective
  • Wright was known to be arrogant, and his self-importance is on full display here.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Georg, an unemployed auto mechanic, comes across as an arrogant jock.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Constellation boundaries are less tidy than the drawings suggest.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Order the homemade meatballs, polenta with sautéed mushrooms and mascarpone, and a pepperoni-and-hot-honey pizza along with any of the interesting wines or local craft beers on the tidy beverage list.
    — Christina Pérez, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tidy
Adjective
  • The locker real estate in the team’s second arena was something the proud parent didn’t even consider as part of his son’s Heat takeover.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Musk’s forthright, crusty dad Errol sounds almost proud that something was bullied out of his son, but the movie avoids filling out that traumatic childhood.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • The back frizz is more confined, enclosed in the semi-neat bun.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • To make your pencil skirt look more street style in 2026, swap a blazer for a bomber, a laptop bag bag for a neat top-handle bag and a silk blouse for a crew-neck jumper.
    — Emma Spedding, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of neat
Adjective
  • Played by Jesse Eisenberg, Zuckerberg is dramatized as a conceited, socially awkward college student who repeatedly burns allies in pursuit of power.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Johnson reprises his role as Moana's bantering reluctant partner, the shapeshifting trickster demigod Maui, alongside Jemaine Clement again voicing the conceited giant crustacean Tamatoa.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Definition of conceited
Adjective
  • Drawing on his experiences as a wrestler and 24-hour gym-bro style, fits were kept trim so Dong could wear, say, a pair of training shorts ($98) with a matching black quarter zip ($155) to workout in between market appointments in Paris.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Designers suggest using bold shades for walls, trim, or ceilings, while balancing intensity with neutral tones.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of trim
Adjective
  • These species, along with teal and shovelers, often get categorized by self-important duck hunters as scrap ducks or bonus ducks.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Public officials attend each year to bear witness and show their respects, not deliver self-important speeches.
    — Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of self-important
Adjective
  • Former president Barack Obama expressed surprise at Democrats’ expanding midterm map at a private fundraiser Wednesday night, but warned donors not to get complacent about the party’s chances, according to excerpts provided to The Washington Post.
    — Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • California shouldn’t be complacent, but the state isn’t slouching on preparation, or resolve.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of complacent

Browse Nearby Words

smudgy
smug
smuggle
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Cite this Entry

“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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