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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smug
Drew continues to dutifully poke holes in Brit’s victim narrative, telling the new girl that her smug attitude following Kenya’s firing is alienating.
—
Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
This brings me back to the siege of Jackson, which happens at the same time as Abby’s smug speechifying and Joel-torturing up at the lodge.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
But my in-laws seemed not to catch this smug look of his, and when my mother-in-law excused herself to go to the bathroom, my father-in-law took the opportunity to go over to his desk and take out one of his special blue envelopes.
—Hazlitt, 2 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for smug
Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025
This brings me back to the siege of Jackson, which happens at the same time as Abby’s smug speechifying and Joel-torturing up at the lodge.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
But my in-laws seemed not to catch this smug look of his, and when my mother-in-law excused herself to go to the bathroom, my father-in-law took the opportunity to go over to his desk and take out one of his special blue envelopes.
—Hazlitt, 2 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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For example, when a man in his sixties talks about the same thing, he’s seen as calm and logical, but when a woman in her twenties talks about it, she’s seen as arrogant or trying to act mature.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
15 May 2025
-
By losing some of its arrogant charm, Doom has also lost the means to back it up.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
The whole process should take 15 or 20 minutes total and will go a long way in keeping it tidy.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2025
-
Inside, four shelves help keep things tidy, and the lockable door means your stuff stays yours.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
The narrative continues to evolve, due in no small part to proud descendants of Hiram, James and Wallace.—
Jacoba Urist,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 May 2025
-
Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
The alternative to traditional Medicare promises all the benefits of traditional Medicare in one neat private package.—
Juliette Madrigal,
Boston Herald,
12 May 2025
-
In a neat touch, screens simulate a window showing views of the Moon.—
Adam Williams
May 11,
New Atlas,
11 May 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
-
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
-
Georgina Rodríguez Georgina Rodríguez flaunts a little leg out of her black dress with lace trim.—
Brendan Le,
People.com,
6 May 2025
-
The biggest change is a few new trim options and some subtle exterior design updates.—
Josh Max,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Instead he might have been remembered as another god or angel among many, who came down for a while to heal some bodies, heal some souls, who tried in vain to teach us how to get back to the radix of our lives, then left again.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
6 May 2025
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Fearing that Williams might go to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9, the 49ers tried in vain to trade up to No. 8 with the Carolina Panthers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
17 Nov. 2024
-
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 23 May. 2025.
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