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
My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.
—
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
China has even more reason to be smug.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
Bateman’s Clark is comfortably semi-famous, semi-smug and also, maybe, a decent guy.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smug
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
China has even more reason to be smug.
—Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
Bateman’s Clark is comfortably semi-famous, semi-smug and also, maybe, a decent guy.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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As Molloy gradually succeeds in puncturing Lestat’s aloof, arrogant outer shell, his sound correspondingly shifts from assaultive punk to more contemplative ballads.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
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But Lobo isn't some mindless arrogant hulk out to impose his indomitable will.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Keep the space tidy with a storage bench — which also functions as seating or a makeshift tabletop.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
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Contact Professionals Taking steps to keep your garden clean and tidy and doing your best to deter tick hosts should help to naturally reduce tick problems.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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Colombia of 1994 is not Colombia of 2026, a safer country, a happier country, a more united country, a prouder country.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
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The quality of your trip can set a tone for the next part of your day and can shift the experience of commuting to something of which to be proud in our city.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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And after what is now the fifth-longest scoreless innings streak in MLB history ended, a neat moment ensued when the crowd at Citizens Bank Park gave Sánchez an extended standing ovation.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
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Making sure your garage, kitchen, closet, dresser drawers, and bathroom are neat and tidy and free of clutter can feel like a full-time job.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Three Knights pitchers tried in vain as the Bruins diced up the diamond even though UCF walked UCLA and NCAA home-run leader Megan Grant three times.—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
23 May 2026
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The fact that the highlight of Henri’s wartime experience seems to be the moment Petain arrives in Limoges for a parade, only to shun him during a meet-and-greet afterwards, reveals to what extent all his efforts were in vain.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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No trim, surface, picture frame, vase, or lamp goes unnoticed in this North Carolina mountain cottage, where a distinct color palette and a strong undercurrent of whimsy tie together each room in Elizabeth and Alex Brooks’ home.—
Ella Field,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
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Nightshade Edition models are the most stylish of the trim options, adding a trim-exclusive color and exterior touches.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Self-righteous and self-important, priggish and nagging.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
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Only this time the interns are boring Gen Z stereotypes (obsessed with TikTok, too sensitive, too emotional, too self-important).—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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