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smug

smug

85 5.2
A person who feels too pleased with themselves in a way that annoys others
  • adjective
  • /smʌg/
translation icon : engreído
  • After winning the debate, she had a smug expression that annoyed her opponents.
  • smug satisfaction

Today we have comfortably smug Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook.

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Examples

  • Striding back down the hall, he knew he looked smug, but he didn't care.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Try not to act too smug.

  • You can see it on his smug little face.

  • Give me that smug look and be on your way.

  • Then what are you so smug about?

  • Look at her, so smug.

  • Gao is standing off to the side, a smug smile on his face.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • "I don't know what Albert is so smug about," she says self-consciously.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Frostfur sat up, watching Daine with an odd, smug look in her amber eyes.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Dr. Peter Silberman, a smug criminal psychologist, leads a group of young interns.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

arrogant
vssmug
260 4.5

Behaving as if you are more important or better than other people

is less forceful and more inwardly pleased, causing quiet annoyance
cocky
vssmug
  • Informal
99 4.2

Being too confident and acting proud so other people dislike you

is less loud and more quietly pleased, creating mild annoyance
conceited
vssmug
24 5.4

Thinking you are much better than other people

is more quietly pleased and irritating rather than openly boastful or grand
egotistical
vssmug
  • Offensive
24 6.6

Seeing yourself as much more important than other people

is less self-focused in display and more quietly pleased yet annoying
prideful
vssmug
8 6.1

Feeling or acting as if you are better than other people

is more subtle in proud feeling and causes irritation rather than contempt
6 4.9

Too pleased with yourself in a way that annoys others

is more quietly proud and slightly irritating rather than openly dismissive
overweening
vssmug
  • Formal
2 9.8

Too much pride and confidence that makes people dislike you

is milder in intensity and more composedly self satisfied
egotistic
vssmug
  • Offensive
1 7.2

Thinking you are more important than other people

is milder in show and more quietly pleased rather than loudly dominant
hubristic
vssmug
  • Formal
1 8.4

Being too proud and too sure of yourself so you ignore advice and make bad decisions

is less grandiose and more smallscale proud, causing subtle irritation
proud as a peacock
vssmug
  • Informal
1 7.4

Being very pleased with yourself and showing it in a loud, showy way

is subtler and more inwardly pleased rather than openly showing off
triumphalist
vssmug
1 8.2

Showing too much pride after a win that annoys others

is less celebratory and more quietly self pleased, irritating by tone
overproud
vssmug
7.2

Believing you are better than other people and acting like it

is less direct in pride and more inwardly pleased in tone

Antonyms

222 2.8

Not proud and not thinking you are better than others

Not wanting attention and being modest

How Smug

haughty
14 8.1
arrogant
260 4.5
conceited
24 5.4
smug
85 5.2

Surface Forms

smug positive
smugger comparative
smuggest superlative

Etymology

Smug probably comes from an old local word that meant 'neat' or 'well dressed'. A helpful way to remember it is to picture someone so 'smart' and tidy that they seem very pleased with themselves and annoy other people — that's why 'smug' means being too proud in a way that irritates others.