ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Smug

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /smʌɡ/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Smug is an adjective meaning Irritatingly pleased with oneself; offensively self-complacent, self-satisfied.

Meaning

Irritatingly pleased with oneself; offensively self-complacent, self-satisfied.

More Meanings

  1. Showing smugness; showing self-complacency, self-satisfaction.
  2. (intransitive) to adopt an offensively self-complacent expression.
  3. (obsolete) Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.
  4. (obsolete, transitive) To make smug, or spruce.
  5. (obsolete, transitive, slang) To seize; to confiscate.
  6. (obsolete, transitive, slang) To hush up.
  7. (obsolete, Anglo-Chinese) The smuggling trade.

Example Sentences

a smug look on her face
They be so smug and smooth.
Kate looked extremely smug this morning.
the smug and scanty draperies of his style

Word Forms

Synonyms for smug

Depending on context, synonyms include complacent, gloaty, self-satisfied, airy, arrogant, chesty.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include self-satisfied, content, contented, complacent, happy, satisfied.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.