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
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Recent Examples of smug
Over Your Dead Body is not for the faint of heart, but give or take a rape threat that crosses the line into smug sadism without quite seeming to realize it, the violence lands as more comically cartoonish than horrific.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
When other models stumble, Gemini is smug.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
The ceremony has remained a smug political distraction ever since.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smug
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026
When other models stumble, Gemini is smug.
—Tharin Pillay, Time, 12 Mar. 2026
The ceremony has remained a smug political distraction ever since.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
-
The series has devolved into a hysteria that the young and arrogant Timberwolves feed on since that first quarter of Game 2.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
However, many thought Tilson Thomas too brash and arrogant to lead an orchestra, and, around the same time, Tilson Thomas fell in with New York’s disco-hopping crowd.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The book resists tidy moral conclusions.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
That divide may look tidy on paper, but real life is messier.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Warnings, laments, and odes to renewal were expressed pictorially as dying days under bleeding heavens, belching volcanoes, proud icebergs, lavish rainbows amid spangling, mist-suffusing sunlight and dawns of peace and hope.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Simulation Academy at Yale is proud to announce the Graduation of approximately 75 students on Saturday, May 2.—
Simulation Academy at Yale,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her home state isn’t one of neat lines and concrete divisions; this is the only place in the world where bluegrass, zydeco, Tejano, western swing, and Mexican rancheras all coexist and sometimes even blend.—
Cat Cardenas,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
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Not just the neat trick of beguiling highbrow critics while at the same time pleasing millions of readers who don’t care about literary bona fides.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
In reply, Rishabh Pant’s 42 went in vain as Lucknow faltered to finish with 155-8 in 20 overs, and then ultimately lost the Super Over.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
While rescuers searched in vain, distraught relatives of passengers rushed to the ValuJet counter at Miami International.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Randolph mirrored Larter's edgy energy, sporting an oversized, rich brown leather jacket paired with a black silk skirt with lace trim.—
Danielle Minnetian,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
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While some trees and shrubs can handle a little trim, many cannot this time of year.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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