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
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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
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Recent Examples of smug
Mars took a chilling photo of Carolyn Bryant, a thin, pale brunette with dark lipstick and sharp eyebrows, sitting cross-armed in the gallery, looking smug.
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Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
But while the 118 is able to save both Celeste and her mother-in-law’s final resting place, a smug Trent trips and drops the vase, an appropriate punchline to a very silly cold open.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
The smug conventional wisdom has it that voters don’t care much about abstractions like democracy or the rule of law.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Tonight was like having Thanksgiving with your most nervous uncle and your smuggest nephew.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smug 
Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
But while the 118 is able to save both Celeste and her mother-in-law’s final resting place, a smug Trent trips and drops the vase, an appropriate punchline to a very silly cold open.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
The smug conventional wisdom has it that voters don’t care much about abstractions like democracy or the rule of law.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Tonight was like having Thanksgiving with your most nervous uncle and your smuggest nephew.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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The arrogant millionaire heir James Beaufort (Damian Hardung) then has to deal with the quick-witted scholarship student, for better or worse.Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
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The truth is that women often downplay their accomplishments to avoid being perceived as arrogant, but this approach can unintentionally undermine your professional growth.Nicole Lipkin, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The Golden Boy 5 Tips for Keeping Your House Clean With Pets Indeed, keeping the house clean and tidy as a pet owner is a major task by itself, never mind with a hyperactive puppy around.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
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Compact and lightweight, this case is perfect for gaming on the go or just keeping your setup tidy at home.Stephanie Hope, PCMAG, 2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Funny Christmas jokes for kids, knock-knocks, memes to make dad proud How to prepare for winter 2024 — from freezing pipes to driving in snow and ice Who created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 16 Dec. 2024
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As of this week, there’s even a new Glossier product on the block sure to make Emily Weiss proud, a chubby eye shadow stick that’s excellent for accentuating even the most natural of makeup looks.Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But Telegram has always come across as a secure alternative to those other mainstream platforms, which is a neat example of the power of marketing.Zak Doffman, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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How to Grow Plants from Cuttings to Fill More Pots for Free Pruning Rainbow Eucalyptus Periodic pruning will keep rainbow eucalyptus neat and at a manageable size.Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The film, which centers on a group of egotistical actors making a Vietnam War movie, grossed nearly $200 million worldwide and picked up an Oscar nomination for supporting actor thanks to Robert Downey Jr.Zack Sharf, Variety, 26 Nov. 2024
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And with Elon Musk playing a key role in this new administration, who knows in which direction his bombastic, egotistical whims may take AI development?Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For 2025 the company added a new Black Edition trim, tested here, with 20-inch wheels, dark trim and welcome lighting with the Infiniti logo.Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
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Unlike most of Filson’s offerings, the cut of this jacket is trim, short, and boxy.The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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All of which has finally led Sony to give up and admit their long-simmering plans for a big supervillain team-up movie and crossover with Spider-Man have been in vain.Mark Hughes, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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Hundreds of people gathered in the desert, in vain.Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
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
Thesaurus Entries Near smug
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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