smug

[ smuhg ]

/ smʌg /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR smug ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, smug·ger, smug·gest.

contentedly confident of one's ability, superiority, or correctness; complacent.

trim; spruce; smooth; sleek.

Nearby words

smtp, smudge, smudge pot, smudging, smudgy, smug, smuggery, smuggle, smuggler, smuggling, smugly

Origin of smug

1545–55; perhaps < Middle Dutch smuc neat, pretty, nice

Related forms

smug·ly, adverbsmug·ness, nounun·smug, adjectiveun·smug·ly, adverb

un·smug·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for smug

She was even sweet to that smug ingrate Miss Bunting after she kept insulting everyone at dinner.
‘Downton Abbey’ Review: A Fire, Some Sex, and Sad, Sad Edith|Kevin Fallon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
On video, Raymond Santana was smug, boastful, and nonchalant by turns, vividly reenacting who did what during the rape.
The Myth of the Central Park Five|Edward Conlon|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He traces the history of ideas with skill and care, and he avoids the smug certainty of many contemporary science writers.
Why Aristotle Deserves A Posthumous Nobel|Nick Romeo|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At first, Tywin tried to dismiss her with another one of his “smug stories.”
Best ‘Game of Thrones’ Season Yet|Andrew Romano|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Then they stood in front of the chalkboard, smug and self-satisfied.
Iceland Is Beautiful. And Sooo Weird.|Kevin Fallon|April 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had hated the smug, self-satisfied merchants of Grand Avenue.
The Mucker|Edgar Rice Burroughs
But he got in some smug reminders of the severance of diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
War and the Future|H. G. Wells
We are desirous greatly to see all these smug ancient gentlemen satisfied; but notwithstanding we are unable to budge an inch.
The Great Company|Beckles Willson
He laughed aloud before he went into the street, and then he put on a smug face.
Miser Farebrother (vol 3 of 3)|Benjamin Leopold Farjeon
The loss even of the smug 127 figure of Jules Simon, just outside Durand's, would be something like a bereavement.
A Wanderer in Paris|E. V. Lucas

British Dictionary definitions for smug

smug

/ (smʌɡ) /

adjective smugger or smuggest

excessively self-satisfied or complacent

archaic trim or neat

Derived Formssmugly, adverbsmugness, noun

Word Origin for smug

C16: of Germanic origin; compare Low German smuck neat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

smug

adjective, smug·ger, smug·gest.

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Nearby words

Origin of smug

Examples from the Web for smug

British Dictionary definitions for smug

smug

adjective smugger or smuggest

Word Origin for smug