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, smur, smurfing, smush

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 Forms

smugly, 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.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of smug

Related forms

Examples from the Web for smug

British Dictionary definitions for smug

smug

adjective smugger or smuggest

Derived Forms

Word Origin for smug