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
-
Making the vanity the centerpiece of the bathroom can transform the space entires, often with just a simple can of paint.—
Lauren Jones,
The Spruce,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Included in this suite is a spa-like primary bath with a soaking tub, stand-up shower, and two vanities.—
James Alexander,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
So if our leader can check his ego, clearly the rest of us could check our ego.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Like their ego is being quieted .—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This was about something as simple yet profound as national pride, something recently reawakened in many of them.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 17,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
-
In addition to green representing nationalism and pride in Ireland, the color symbolizes protection.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Whether out of arrogance, capriciousness, or collective amnesia, this recent history was ignored.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Vince is benched for his arrogance, but eventually turns his attitude around and leads East Dillon to the state championship — while Jordan's stellar performance in the compelling story arc cemented his rising-star status.—
Ken Simmons,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His savior was the experimental documentarian Harun Farocki, famous for provocative works that skewered bourgeois complacency.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
But progress should not lead to complacency.—
Ralph Clark,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 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
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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 23 Mar. 2026.
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