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
Their attitude, their smugness was palpable.
—
Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Just as in real life when a too-good singer gets the mic at karaoke, the scene has a certain smugness.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
The smugness is thicker than split pea.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Just as in real life when a too-good singer gets the mic at karaoke, the scene has a certain smugness.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
The smugness is thicker than split pea.
—Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smugness
Noun
-
The marble bathrooms offer plenty of room to stretch out, with double vanities, deep bathtubs, power showers, and thick terry cloth robes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Good said more companies are seeking fitness options in their buildings in the wake of the pandemic, and the development would have ample exercise equipment, upscale lockers, shower rooms, vanities and saunas.—
Madison Iszler,
San Antonio Express-News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
If pride bristles, breathe and frame feedback as an invitation to make the work shine brighter than any ego.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Through her precise storytelling, Hao offers a clarifying perspective amid the AI mania and lays bare the ravenous, profit-seeking egos driving it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Held at the East Cut, the annual event organized by Empire brought together Bay Area artists, vendors and residents in a showcase of community pride.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
If pride bristles, breathe and frame feedback as an invitation to make the work shine brighter than any ego.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While their energies differ, nearly all of them share the same basic drives (money, power, status) and the same fundamental flaws (greed, arrogance, selfishness).—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their defensive style can look like arrogance or hostility.—
Paul Sanchez Ruiz,
The Conversation,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Austrian insisted that his team would be looking to win in Florence and there would be no complacency from his players despite their comfortable lead in the tie.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
This awareness prevents the complacency that precedes disaster.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 20 Apr. 2026.
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