smug

adjective

ˈsməg How to pronounce smug (audio)
Definition of smugnext
1
as in arrogant
having too high an opinion of oneself a winner who was so smug that he lost the goodwill of the crowd

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tidy
being clean and in good order the suburb's smug lawns and tree-lined streets bespeak a comfortable affluence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 smug Over the past four years, criticism of this Chelsea ownership and executive regime — whether by fans or by the media — has often met with smug or defiant responses. — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 Federer, especially—unperturbed, smug, highly punchable—seems to have brought an almost martyr-like tenacity out of Nadal. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 June 2026 But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 4 May 2026 Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
  1. arrogant
  2. tidy
  3. proud
  4. neat
  5. vain
  6. trim
  7. conceited
  8. self-important
Adjective
  • West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
    — David j. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
  • Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
    — Charles Moss, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Start with a tidy desk and a glass of water, then batch related tasks so your focus stays strong through the afternoon.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026
  • So a corporate statement or a recruiting slogan or a tidy values page doesn't automatically carry weight with a Gen Z candidate.
    — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of tidy
Adjective
  • Swift will either ignore the noise as usual, or smile at the absurdity as a secure, proud childless cat lady.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Looking back, Fox is proud to be part of such a perennial classic.
    — Jonathon Dornbush, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of proud
Adjective
  • This is a great whiskey to sip neat, but the brand also recommends trying it in an Old Fashioned.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 2 July 2026
  • Several other Dolphins also have stood atop all of their peers in something neat, at some point.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of neat
Adjective
  • Usually, their appeals are in vain, with the Norwegian flagged offside just five times last season, fewer than any other Premier League forward who played at least 900 minutes.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • After booking commercials and minor screen roles during the ’50s and ’60s, he was cast as the vain but rather dim TV news anchor Ted Baxter in 1970.
    — Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026
Definition of vain
Adjective
  • Between the scalloped trim, playful print, and comfy fit, this statement-making two-piece was a no-brainer for my trip.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 24 June 2026
  • The away uniform is yellow with turquoise, pink, and orange trim, inspired by the historic, colorful architecture of downtown Willemstad.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026
Definition of trim
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
  • 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
Definition of conceited
Adjective
  • Self-righteous and self-important, priggish and nagging.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 May 2026
  • Only this time the interns are boring Gen Z stereotypes (obsessed with TikTok, too sensitive, too emotional, too self-important).
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of self-important

Browse Nearby Words

smudgy
smug
smuggle
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Cite this Entry

“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of smug for Spanish Speakers

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