smug Hear it!

smug Definition

smug (smug)

adjective smug·ger, smug·gest

  1. Archaic neat, spruce, trim, etc.
  2. narrowly contented with one's own accomplishments, beliefs, morality, etc.; self-satisfied to an annoying degree; complacent

Etymology: prob. < LowG smuk, trim, neat, akin to Ger schmuck, neat: for IE base see smock

smug Related Forms

smugly adverb smug·ness noun

smug Synonyms

smug

modif.

self-satisfied, complacent, conceited, vainglorious, pleased with oneself, priggish, snobbish, superior, egotistical, egoistic, complacent, self-righteous, stuck up*, stuck on oneself*.

Antonyms modest*, retiring*, reserved.

smug Usage Examples

Preposition: in

knowledge: I got on with riding my bike, safe and smug in the knowledge that I'd done my bit.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

feel: Difficult not to feel a wee bit smug really!

Modifies a noun

  • self-satisfaction: We look down on them with an air of smug self-satisfaction.
  • grin: Fact is, I'd probably have a smug grin on my face wherever I happened to drive it.
  • git: Perhaps they all realized what a smug git Campbell is.
  • complacency: The smug complacency displayed in the recent Budget was therefore understandable up to a point.
  • superiority: The smug superiority in their glances can't be bettered.
  • smile: With a smug smile, Jack then placed the glass in the freezer.

Modifying Another Word

  • insufferably: The old man beamed at him, looking insufferably smug.
  • slightly: You'll also find that the people in here sport slightly smug 'look what we found ' looks on their faces.
  • rather: We know the rather smug legend of Caine never being able to resist an offer or a check.
  • too: My problem now, is trying not to look too smug... .
  • pretty: I went to sleep feeling pretty smug, thinking I was some kind of Davy Crockett.
  • quite: I'm not only proud of that, I'm quite smug about it!

Used with adjective complement

  • feel: Feeling smug, having posted my blog, I raised the mug to my lips.
  • look: My problem now, is trying not to look too smug... .
  • sound: Muir Russell: You will trap me into sounding very smug.
  • become: It is, of course, too early to become smug about these commitments.
  • get: This is a lesson of why to never get smug... .
  • appear: Not wishing to appear smug, some of us were able to enjoy the last recital feeling less damp than others!

Browse dictionary entries near smug

  1. smudgy
  2. smudge
  3. SMTP or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
  4. SMTP
  5. SMSC
  6. SMS
  7. SMR
  8. smoulder
  9. smothered
  10. smother
  1. smuggle
  2. smuggler
  3. smuggling
  4. Smurf
  5. smush
  6. smut
  7. smutch
  8. Smuts
  9. Smuts,Jan Christian
  10. smutty