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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Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
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Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To prop up his strawman arguments, Sheridan introduces the Big Apple by showing Stacy’s twentysomething daughter, Paige (Elle Chapman), getting punched in the face and robbed while walking down Fifth Avenue.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
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Masuka said police suggested this means no foul play was involved and that Davis was not robbed.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Planning for more than 11 contests out of Dobbins, something only produced twice over his first six NFL seasons, isn’t just arrogant.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Capitalize on the overwhelming support for legislative transparency and Spilka, Mariano and Attorney General Andea Campbell’s arrogant refusal to implement it.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The City Council License Committee was scheduled to vote on the measure on Thursday, but without an explanation the proposal was held up without a debate or vote.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The Panthers gave up five grade-A chances in the opening 10 minutes of the game, and Bobrovsky held up.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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After all, Payton only weeks ago acknowledged Denver could be proud of a 14-3 season and simultaneously take a sober view of it.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and his wife, Izzy Smoke Nix, are the proud parents of a baby girl.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some names had been ripped off the lobby marquee, but were still billing Medicare from that address.—
William La Jeunesse,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Don't count on an open scrimmage everywhere Several notable programs are declining to go back to the way things were now that the proverbial Band-Aid has been ripped off.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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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Ukraine has acquired deep knowlege of drone warfare since Russia invaded in 2022.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Iran war briefly drove oil to $118 a barrel, the highest price since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stuck-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stuck-up. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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