smarmy

[smahr-mee]

adjective

smarmier, smarmiest 

1. excessively or unctuously flattering, ingratiating, servile, etc..

   the emcee with the smarmy welcome.

smarmy

/ ˈsmɑːmɪ /

adjective

1. informal,  obsequiously flattering or unpleasantly suave

Other Word Forms

• smarmily adverb
• smarminess noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of smarmy¹

1905–10; smarm, variant of dial. smalm to smear, make slick (< ?) + -y ¹

Example Sentences

Twenty-three years of a smug, smarmy host, and a bunch of sportswriters desperate for sound bites and attention.

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In addition, the artist comes off as smarmy and contentious at times, belying his “holy man” persona and populist vibe.

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Levi plays Scott as somewhat smarmy and disingenuous — it’s hard to feel for this guy when he seems absolutely clueless about his own kids.

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“Opus” is a knife in his own back, a dig on the smarmy relationship between press and talent.

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Williams wants to impress upon folks that he is an iconoclast, and it comes off as smarmy.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• smug