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
There’s the divorced couple maintaining their relationship for their children; the happy and occasionally smug monogamist; the man who prefers not to commit; the woman who can’t decide.
—
Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 15 May 2025
To his critics, Jost’s smug humor felt noticeably anachronistic at a time when the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements were calling for a greater awareness of society’s deep inequalities, and for ostensibly liberal institutions to do better.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
The series has been characterized by smug antics in defeat.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
Everyone’s relationship has, yes, seasons, and each couple weathers a few different ones during the show, with smug closeness eroding into terse bitterness, doting affection into resentful frustration.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 15 May 2025
To his critics, Jost’s smug humor felt noticeably anachronistic at a time when the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements were calling for a greater awareness of society’s deep inequalities, and for ostensibly liberal institutions to do better.
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
The series has been characterized by smug antics in defeat.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 16 May 2025
Everyone’s relationship has, yes, seasons, and each couple weathers a few different ones during the show, with smug closeness eroding into terse bitterness, doting affection into resentful frustration.
—Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
-
The exiled poet was criticized for his arrogant attempts to influence British and American foreign policy.—
Graham Robb,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2025
-
There is something dangerously, provocatively arrogant about his glorified gang leader looks.—
Timothy Crouse,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Hughes was on pace for 92 points before he got hurt, while Hischier scored 35 goals and drove stout defensive results at a tidy $7.25 million cap hit.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
15 June 2025
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Both Scott and Burns made tidy pars, Scott missing a birdie putt by inches.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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But while Boyle is proud of his influence on the zombie film landscape, he’s mostly abstained from watching any of those movies himself.—
Jake Kleinman,
Wired News,
20 June 2025
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That one small step was just the beginning, paving the way for a succession of shorts and feature-length films that have been proud to wear their sci-fi credentials on their Space Ranger sleeves.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Yet, this strategy stumbles when confronted with the complexity of human systems, where relationships and feedback loops defy neat separation and where interventions often yield unpredictable consequences.—
Dr. Alex Gold,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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Not mean-spirited ones—but the kind that tuck people into neat categories.—
Rabbi Jack Engel,
Sun Sentinel,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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The men were very egotistical in this film and no one really showed up.—
Jeff Conway,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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In the upcoming film, Oscar Isaac stars as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature (Jacob Elordi) to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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While exterior touches are scarce, the grille, lighting, headlight trim, and exterior handles all nicely complement the sleek body without impeding it.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
Back in March, the electric car brand and NHTSA recalled over 46,000 Cybertrucks due to a reported risk of a trim panel detaching.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Cowdrey was struck a painful blow by Somerset’s Adrian Jones the following week while trying in vain to lead Kent to the County Championship title and, brutally, his time in charge of the national team was quietly curtailed.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
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But Simmons takes his time building his flawed character, who is soft-spoken in private, vain about his appearance and unfaithful to his wife.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2025
Adjective
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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
-
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 24 Jun. 2025.
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