smug
adjective
contentedly confident of one's ability, superiority, or correctness; complacent.
smugness
-
a word derived from
smug.
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.
The smugness, arrogance and hubris in this city is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
From MarketWatch ● May 15, 2026
That will also have contained a large dose of smugness towards the Leeds fans, who had been throwing insults towards him during the game, according to the Spaniard.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2026
“Looking back on it, my smugness was disgusting. I can’t imagine he read it & if he did, I’m sure he didn’t care but still, I wish I had found a way to apologize.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2024
To judge by his body of work, he’s not particularly smart, or funny, or insightful; he evinces the milky smugness of the bully’s dumb henchman in some lame 1980s slobs-vs.-snobs comedy.
From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2023
For years I’d felt a certain smugness about how easily I had made the shift from war to peace.
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
