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Glite Dictionary
smarmy

smarmy

12 8.1
Too polite and friendly in a way that does not seem real
  • adjective
  • /ˈsmɑrmi/
  • Informal
: zalamero
  • Despite his smarmy compliments, she could tell he was not being genuine.
  • smarmy smile
  • smarmy little
  • smarmy bastard

And then I have moments like this and I'm like, Oh yeah, I see why saying that because I am a smarmy prick.

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Examples

  • The salesperson gave a smarmy pitch that made everyone uncomfortable.

  • STUDIO SCREENING ROOM - DAY: Feldman and his fellow smarmy executives sit in a plush screening room.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • I hate your smarmy good looks, and your easy manner.

    Sleuth (1972)

  • There's something seriously smarmy about that guy.

    Kingdom Come (2014)

  • I have to admit a certain smarmy brilliance.

    House at the End of the Street (2012)

  • "Oh, yes," I said, baring my teeth in a smarmy smile.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • A little smarmy for my taste, but I guess that's what sells.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Well, I guess the big fish was, is, and remains that smarmy arrogant creep, Walker.

    Blog text (20)

  • For smart fans, Chris Jericho's smarmy bad guy was one of the top reasons to watch WCW.

    Blog text (24)

  • And he's got this stupid, smarmy accent and his art is... self-indulgent, derivative garbage.

    Alice, Darling (2022)

Synonyms

oily
vssmarmy
6 6.7

Too smooth and pleasant in a way that seems false

is more about general false kindness rather than sharp smoothness
unctuous
vssmarmy
3 9.7

A person who gives too many fake compliments to try to please people

is less formal and focuses on false politeness rather than smoothness
soapy
vssmarmy
3 7.1

Trying to please others with smooth words that are not sincere

is more about false charm meant to please rather than merely pleasant tone
fulsome
vssmarmy
  • Formal
3 9.3

Too much praise that sounds false and makes people uncomfortable

is narrower, focusing on flattering behavior rather than large quantity of praise
buttery
vssmarmy
1 7.9

Talking in a smooth, not sincere way to seem friendly

is stronger about being insincere to gain favor rather than just tone
oleaginous
vssmarmy
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Too smooth and friendly in a fake, unpleasant way

is more about polite false friendliness rather than plain eagerness

Antonyms

sincere
236 2.5

Being honest and showing what you really feel

genuine
140 3.2

Truly felt and not fake, for example a smile or apology

How Insincere

sycophantic
  • Formal
5 9.2
obsequious
  • Formal
8 9.3
smarmy
  • Informal
12 8.1
flattering
47 4.2

Surface Forms

smarmy positive

Morphology

smarmy = smarm (opaque) = smarm + y

Although '-y' usually creates adjectives meaning 'characterized by', the base 'smarm' is rare and unfamiliar to most learners, so the meaning is not easily derived.

Etymology

Smarmy comes from an old word smear, which meant 'to rub' or spread something greasy. So a smarmy person feels 'oily' and too smooth with their compliments, which helps explain why their politeness seems false.