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Definition of snugnext
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as in to snuggle
to sit or recline comfortably or cozily the farmhand snugged down in the hay and proceeded to go to sleep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective snug differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of snug are comfortable, cozy, easy, and restful. While all these words mean "enjoying or providing a position of contentment and security," snug suggests having just enough space for comfort and safety but no more.

a snug little cottage

When could comfortable be used to replace snug?

The words comfortable and snug can be used in similar contexts, but comfortable applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or complacency as well as physical ease.

started feeling comfortable in our new surroundings

When would cozy be a good substitute for snug?

While the synonyms cozy and snug are close in meaning, cozy suggests warmth, shelter, assured ease, and friendliness.

a cozy neighborhood coffee shop

When is easy a more appropriate choice than snug?

The meanings of easy and snug largely overlap; however, easy implies relief from or absence of anything likely to cause discomfort or constraint.

living in easy circumstances

When can restful be used instead of snug?

The words restful and snug are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, restful applies to whatever induces or contributes to rest or relaxation.

a quiet restful vacation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of snug
Adjective
They’re made with a soft leather upper material and adjustable buckle to ensure your feet are snug and secure. Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026 Built on the same last as his cowboy boots, Merrell became known for building products that — like a cowboy boot — were snug at the heel, precise over the instep and roomy in the toes. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
Verb
Built on the same last as his cowboy boots, Merrell became known for building products that — like a cowboy boot — were snug at the heel, precise over the instep and roomy in the toes. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 2 June 2026 The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for snug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snug
Adjective
  • History offers no tidy handoff from one Death Valley to the other.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Pruning your fruit trees keeps them looking tidy and promotes vigorous growth and a healthy harvest.
    Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • It may be overlooked, considering how comfortable Suzuki appears when carrying out Unai Emery’s ploy of his backline baiting an opponent’s press, but at Parma, he was required to kick mostly long.
    Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Drew Lock has clearly become more comfortable as a passer this quarter, but his 14-yard run also hurt New England by putting Seattle only three yards from the goal line.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Sally’s hair, normally swept back into a loose half-up style or relaxed braids, is noticeably more coiffed and pulled back than in the original film.
    Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Knöbl recommends allowing roughly three and a half to four hours for a relaxed outing from central Vienna and back.
    Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The Georgia Tech biologist works with treelike clusters of genetically identical yeast cells that remain stuck together after cell division.
    Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The hotter market for luxury properties comes at a time when the broader housing market remains stuck in a yearslong rut.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • While rights activists accuse Bukele's government of widespread abuses, the country is notably safer than many other countries whose people have recently lost TPS protections.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Players around the country were shaken, uncertain about the safety of air travel and whether their families would be safe from potential acts of terror to follow.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But these kittens can't stop snuggling after being separated.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The next slide showed Thurston snuggling up with her dog, Charlie.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Fashion teams can compare cities and seasons as well as brands, side by side, and it can be done with a highly granular range of attributes — such as product type, color, material and print all the way through to fit, detail, trim, closure and tone.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Designers suggest using bold shades for walls, trim, or ceilings, while balancing intensity with neutral tones.
    Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The infected children reported a range of skin and soft tissue symptoms, including spots, pustules, blisters, and abscesses.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That belief — that culture is simultaneously an economic force, a source of soft power and something that requires active protection — became the thesis for the gathering, the first of this scale in a century.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Snug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snug. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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