as in smug
having too high an opinion of oneself
thought that the kids at his new school were snobbish and stuck-up
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Recent Examples of stuck-up
Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 7 July 2025
Greer’s disdainful, stuck-up lines ooze out of Kidman’s mouth.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
Men fear that stepping outside those norms could lead to teasing, looking unprofessional, or appearing too formal or stuck-up.
—Byeva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 June 2024
During his time at Bushwood Country Club, O’Keefe’s character becomes involved in a rivalry amongst a prominent, stuck-up member of the club – Judge Elihu Smails (played by Ted Knight) – and a boisterous, jokester guest named Al Czervik (played by legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield).
—Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The two click, and in episode 3 of the new season, Peggy visits Dr. Kirkland at his home in Newport, meeting his parents, who are extremely stuck-up and look down on Peggy's family's humbler origins.
—Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 7 July 2025
Greer’s disdainful, stuck-up lines ooze out of Kidman’s mouth.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
Men fear that stepping outside those norms could lead to teasing, looking unprofessional, or appearing too formal or stuck-up.
—Byeva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 June 2024
During his time at Bushwood Country Club, O’Keefe’s character becomes involved in a rivalry amongst a prominent, stuck-up member of the club – Judge Elihu Smails (played by Ted Knight) – and a boisterous, jokester guest named Al Czervik (played by legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield).
—Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stuck-up
Adjective
-
The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Davenport said this is the second time someone has been robbed outside her home.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
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Despite the March 26 fire at the City Park Bandshell, which destroyed the historic structure and robbed this marquee series of its main stage, the 40-year-old jazz nonprofit has vowed to go on with a mobile stage.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Not even the pork choppers were as arrogant and scornful of voting rights as the current mob.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
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Of course, David went on to build one of the most illustrious careers in television with characters who are often arrogant, petty and unlikable by traditional media standards.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Verb
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In late 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Administration did agree to fund a $42-million buyout program for about 20 homes ruined by the land movement, but that money remains held up in a long approval process, Mihranian said.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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The promise held up when Shoemaker, 64, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2021, when he was covered under the military’s health care program, TRICARE.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
The people are so welcoming and friendly and proud of their city And there’s great food.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 May 2026
-
After three years in the Eurovision wilderness, Romania makes a loud-and-proud comeback with a propulsive blend of nu-metal guitars, angsty melodies, and operatic trills worthy of a hand-horn salute.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The model Nugent and colleagues have homed in on for LFBOTs is the collision of a compact stellar remnant with the leftover helium core from a massive star that has had its outer hydrogen envelope ripped off — a Wolf-Rayet star.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
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Salinas also confirmed he was ripped off by Astor Asset Group in an interview with The Wall Street Journal last year.—
Dave Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
6 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
Verb
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Perhaps not coincidentally, Russia invaded the former Soviet republic of Georgia later that year.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Some have questioned whether the Biennale really is a nonpartisan exhibition, pointing to the show’s history of making political statements, including in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuck-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuck-up. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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