SMUG Synonyms: 178 Similar and Opposite Words

smug

adjective

ˈsməg

Definition of smug

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 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 Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for smug

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug

Adjective

Steve Buscemi as Harry’s regular fence; Tatiana Maslany as his estranged daughter; and Will Price as the arrogant, heat-packing scion of a Manhattan crime family also star.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Ever-sensible Elinor, who never asks for much, has already met, and fallen for, Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), Fanny’s brother, as kind and modest as Fanny is arrogant.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Britain wants to keep space tidy, so the UK Space Agency (UKSA) has awarded a £61-million (US$81-million) contract to remove two defunct UK satellites from orbit between 2029 and 2032 using manipulator spacecraft launched from the Shetlands.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
And the service is unparalleled, including bathrooms that are cleaned after every use—our own houses aren’t that tidy.

— Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of tidy

Adjective

But scientific progress rarely stays within neat national boxes for long, even when governments would prefer it to.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
This is a great mezcal to sip neat, and the brand recommends trying it in a rocks glass to reveal strong agave notes, while a cordial glass amplifies the flavors picked up during barrel aging.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of neat

Adjective

Played by Jesse Eisenberg, Zuckerberg is dramatized as a conceited, socially awkward college student who repeatedly burns allies in pursuit of power.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, Johnson reprises his role as Moana's bantering reluctant partner, the shapeshifting trickster demigod Maui, alongside Jemaine Clement again voicing the conceited giant crustacean Tamatoa.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026

Definition of conceited

Adjective

The trim, Venezuelan-leaning restaurant sits at the nexus of the fast-developing Melrose Hill, across the street from Little Fish and Kuya Lord and around the corner from Bar Étoile.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Drawing on his experiences as a wrestler and 24-hour gym-bro style, fits were kept trim so Dong could wear, say, a pair of training shorts ($98) with a matching black quarter zip ($155) to workout in between market appointments in Paris.

— Ari Stark, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of trim

Adjective

These species, along with teal and shovelers, often get categorized by self-important duck hunters as scrap ducks or bonus ducks.

— Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2026
Public officials attend each year to bear witness and show their respects, not deliver self-important speeches.

— Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of self-important

Adjective

Historically, each president's detractors have seen midterms as an opportunity, while his supporters have often been complacent — or at least less motivated.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
But even where that foundational understanding exists, IT leaders can’t afford to get complacent about how technology, and the people who run it, are perceived.

— Ken Feyder, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of complacent

Browse Nearby Words

smudgy

smug

smuggle

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of smug

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes