smugly

American  

[smuhg-lee] / ˈsmʌg li /

adverb

1. in a way that is contentedly confident of one’s ability, superiority, or correctness; in a self-satisfied or complacent way.

   I think I'm just as good as lots of those people who are sitting so smugly in judgment over me.

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Other Word Forms

• unsmugly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of smugly

smug ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

smugly

If airport security and passport lines got you down this summer, now’s the time to look into those fast passes your frequent-flying friends smugly tout.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

It’s tough to top the superlative energy Moore shared with Asner, Valerie Harper’s wisecracking Rhoda Morgenstern and Cloris Leachman as Mary’s smugly married downstairs neighbor, Phyllis.

From Salon ● Jan. 31, 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

“I could say that, Reshi,” Bast said smugly.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss