smugly
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of smugly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And something of a kick in the head for those feeling smugly pessimistic about the future of American education.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
In response, Trump smugly quipped, “That makes me smart.”
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
I think that’s because it would have complicated—or acknowledged the complication—of a story where we could smugly position ourselves as on the “right” side.
From Slate ● Apr. 16, 2024
Sinclair — more than a bit smugly — in the prologue to “The Lesson.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2023
The wizened witch who had flitted into her neighbor’s painting when he had joined the champions downstairs was now sitting smugly beside the Fat Lady.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
