as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the sense of smugness that can come with too many easy victories
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Recent Examples of smugness
The smugness is thicker than split pea.
—
Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
Where Spider masked his incompetence with bravado and abrasiveness, Claude put up a thin layer of smugness that collapsed when faced with even a tiny amount of resistance.
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
Where Spider masked his incompetence with bravado and abrasiveness, Claude put up a thin layer of smugness that collapsed when faced with even a tiny amount of resistance.
—Brian Grubb, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smugness
Noun
-
The rooms Even the standard guest rooms have a good amount of space (starting at 600 square), and the style feels contemporary and understated with rooms done in tan desert hues with natural stone glass showers, double sink vanities, and oval tubs, plus large balconies or patios.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
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Melania has been described as having an audience of one, but that intended viewer’s taste runs more toward Ratner’s earlier work, and Rush Hour 4 is going to be a lot harder to manifest than this vanity project.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That set the stage for an epic clash of strategic visions and executive egos that culminated in the Disney board ousting Chapek in November 2022 and Iger reclaiming the CEO role.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2026
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The good news for voters otherwise predisposed to Abughazaleh is that there’s a youthful progressive candidate in the race with similar views but who comes with a record of service and without the ego.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But since his 2016 debut, Bad Bunny has emerged as the leader of a new cohort of barrier-breaking artists, among them Karol G, J Balvin, Anitta and Peso Pluma, who are globalizing the genre and redefining crossover appeal with their fierce cultural pride.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
No reward, other than the pride of having survived.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite trariffs, military power, dollar dominance and presidential arrogance, isolation, America will triumph.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Adriana is immediately aware of his confidence—bordering on arrogance—but also senses potential chemistry in their skating styles.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Third, monitor for automation complacency.—
François Candelon,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Success continues to dominate the headlines for them, but the Bruins show no signs of complacency.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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My disappointment in Vigil came down to the waste of a perfect setup for exhibiting the worldly redemption of art—that is, its power to redeem us from insensitivity and self-satisfaction.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
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There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smugness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smugness. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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