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
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China has even more reason to be smug.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Bateman’s Clark is comfortably semi-famous, semi-smug and also, maybe, a decent guy.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Chicago police issued an alert on Saturday after two pizza delivery drivers were robbed for food on the city's South Side.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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When Holloway pulled the puck back to his forehand to finish into the empty net, he was robbed by Morrissey, who had slid desperately to his left like a street hockey goalie to make a shocking stick save.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Notoriously arrogant comedy legend Kent Romero might first bring to mind Chevy Chase for readers, perhaps even 1980s stars like Judge Reinhold, but with his Venezuelan-American background, he was also inspired by real-life groundbreakers like Freddie Prinze.—
Lee Kelly,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
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As the sun and Jupiter clash, you’re cosmically protected, but arrogant behavior won’t get a pass.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In recent days, another leak—of a call between Orbán and Vladimir Putin—has been held up as evidence of the former’s subservience.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
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Her Majesty paraded in a low-cut body clinging outfit which was held up by sheer willpower.—
Joshua John Miller,
Vanity Fair,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Garrison’s younger son had played basketball for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; this made Garrison proud.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The people are proud of their industrial background.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit centers on a buying experience that left the customer feeling ripped off.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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The driver’s side mirror was ripped off the car along with other car parts that were found in the roadway.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
7 Apr. 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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Israel then launched a new offensive against Hezbollah, and invaded much of southern Lebanon.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
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While Russia invaded Ukraine four years ago with superior numbers, that advantage has since been neutralized by Western aid and the emergence of new drones, which now account for the vast majority of casualties.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuck-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuck-up. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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