snug

1 of 3

verb

ˈsnəg 

snugged; snugging

intransitive verb

: snuggle, nestle

snug down for bed

transitive verb

1

: to cause to fit closely

2

: to make snug

3

: hide sense 1

4

: to secure by fastening or lashing down

snug

2 of 3

adjective

snugger; snuggest

1

a

of a ship : manifesting seaworthiness : taut

b

: trim, neat

c

: fitting closely and comfortably

a snug coat

2

a

: enjoying or affording warm secure shelter or cover and opportunity for ease and contentment

a snug cottage

a snug haven

b

: marked by cordiality and secure privacy

3

: affording a degree of comfort and ease

a snug income

4

: offering safe concealment

a snug hideout

snug adverb

snugly adverb

snugness noun

snug

3 of 3

noun

British

: a small private room or compartment in a pub

Synonyms

Verb

• curl up
• nestle
• snuggle

Adjective

• antiseptic
• bandbox
• crisp
• groomed
• kempt
• neat
• orderly
• picked up
• prim
• shipshape
• smug
• tidied
• tidy
• trig
• trim
• uncluttered
• well-groomed

Choose the Right Synonym for snug

comfortable, cozy, snug, easy, restful mean enjoying or providing a position of contentment and security.

comfortable applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or complacency as well as physical ease.

started feeling comfortable in our new surroundings

cozy suggests warmth, shelter, assured ease, and friendliness.

a cozy neighborhood coffee shop

snug suggests having just enough space for comfort and safety but no more.

a snug little cottage

easy implies relief from or absence of anything likely to cause discomfort or constraint.

living in easy circumstances

restful applies to whatever induces or contributes to rest or relaxation.

a quiet restful vacation

Examples of snug in a Sentence

Verb

the farmhand snugged down in the hay and proceeded to go to sleep

Adjective

The shoes were too snug.

These jeans are snug around the hips.

We were snug in the cabin.

She felt snug under the warm blanket.

The children were snug in their beds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Our job was to stretch and snug the uppers to the bottom of the lasts. —Heshel Rolnick, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2024

Most of them grow from southern Oregon down into northern California, snugged up against the rugged Pacific coast. —Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024

Adjective

But when the kids are nestled all snug in their beds, take some time for yourself and turn on some holiday cheer from this just-for-you list of Christmas movies that features nary a Rankin/Bass title. —Lydia Price, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024

The interior cabins can be as small as 143 square feet, which is snug, even for a cruise ship. —David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024

Noun

The relaxed arch band loosely snugs against your foot for maximum comfort with light compression. —Mike Richard, Men's Health, 3 Mar. 2023

Inside and out, everything hinges and snugs: The writing desk collapses, the shelving folds flat, and the bed frame stows away into its own headboard. —Josh Condon, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish snygg tidy

Noun

short for snuggery

First Known Use

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

snug

1 of 2 verb

ˈsnəg 

snugged; snugging

1

: to settle or lie down : snuggle

2

: to make snug

snug

2 of 2 adjective

snugger; snuggest

1

a

: seaworthy

b

: trim entry 2, neat

c

: fitting closely and comfortably

a snug coat

2

: enjoying or providing warm secure shelter and comfort : cozy

a snug cottage

3

: fairly large

a snug fortune

4

: offering safe concealment

a snug harbor

snug adverb

snugly adverb

snugness noun