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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of smug
While the Duttons are just barely scraping by, the smug evil-doer is enjoying a warm bath in his mansion.
—
Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Most of your editorials, John Brummett, Rex Nelson, and John Deering, are blatant Trump haters, and their smug, condescending echo-chamber mindsets are constantly denigrating, mocking, and disrespecting at least 64 percent of your potential readers.
—arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Oliver then suddenly appeared with a smug look on his face.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
Remember how, in that SNL book, Ferrell represented the hip future of comedy, mocking the smug boomer shtick of a Chevy Chase?
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Matt Cabral, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2025
Most of your editorials, John Brummett, Rex Nelson, and John Deering, are blatant Trump haters, and their smug, condescending echo-chamber mindsets are constantly denigrating, mocking, and disrespecting at least 64 percent of your potential readers.
—arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Oliver then suddenly appeared with a smug look on his face.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
Remember how, in that SNL book, Ferrell represented the hip future of comedy, mocking the smug boomer shtick of a Chevy Chase?
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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Ava Daniels is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to an insensitive tweet and her reputation for being self-centered and arrogant.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
And the villains, of course, exuding every nastily relatable emotion; the stepmothers and sorceresses are vain, arrogant, dismissive, lonely, rude, and outrageous.—
Darren Franich,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This aversion to water can also be justified by their love of a tidy coat, which water can easily dishevel.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
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Some residences under $5 million embody a level of splendor that defies tidy definitions.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Mizrahi - What was the proudest moment of your career?—
Isaac Mizrahi,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Was proud of winning the school’s first district championship in 20 years.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the next two hours, jeweler and collector pored over nearly 40 pieces, separating them into neat piles.—
Andrea Chang,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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They can be enjoyed sipped neat or poured over ice.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In the 1998 episode, Theroux, 53, appears briefly as an egotistical writer who flirts with Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw at a party.—
John Russell,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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Yes: Crumb’s work is egotistical, misogynist, racist—or, more generously, a feculent parody.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harper's Magazine,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Within seconds, the door was opened by a faceless robot dressed in a beige bodysuit that clung tight to its trim waist and long legs.—
Cade Metz,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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Generous interior space allows tall adults to stretch out in the rear while a large boot, which varies depending on trim level, swallows luggage and prams with ease.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Not gaining admission to a BS/MD program after years of work can feel like a setback, but rest assured that your hard work will not be in vain.—
Kristen Moon,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Real celebrities guest-starred in often awkward encounters with the always vain and self-centered Miss Piggy.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This is the worst kind of football team: a conceited but objectively mediocre squad.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
17 Nov. 2024
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Rory Kinnear steals some of the best lines as the conceited British prime minister, and Ato Essandoh, as Kate’s deputy chief, plays the ever-flustered man surrounded by extremely capable women with admirable humor, charm, and confidence.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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