1
as in arrogant
having too high an opinion of oneself
a winner who was so smug that he lost the goodwill of the crowd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tidy
being clean and in good order
the suburb's smug lawns and tree-lined streets bespeak a comfortable affluence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smug
But the series’ central character, played by Rachel Weisz, has enough nervous, itchy, manic energy to make the show’s narrative structure feel purposely unstable rather than safely smug.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Over the past four years, criticism of this Chelsea ownership and executive regime — whether by fans or by the media — has often met with smug or defiant responses.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.
—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smug
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
McDaniels, who cut through the Nuggets’ egos early in the series with fearless words and a smug grin, got the last laugh.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Over the past four years, criticism of this Chelsea ownership and executive regime — whether by fans or by the media — has often met with smug or defiant responses.
—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
My math teachers of old are very smug somewhere.
—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug
Adjective
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West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
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Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
Adjective
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Start with a tidy desk and a glass of water, then batch related tasks so your focus stays strong through the afternoon.
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So a corporate statement or a recruiting slogan or a tidy values page doesn't automatically carry weight with a Gen Z candidate.
Adjective
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Mamdani, proud of his socialist values, had developed a language for communicating a collective, interdependent vision of city life through his consistent emphasis on affordability.
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This is also where the film dips into the past and becomes awash in the proud history of Hawaiian surfing, bowing at the legend of the great Duke Kahanamoku and going deep into others and how the sport became such a religion for many, notably devotee Kristen.
Adjective
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This is a great whiskey to sip neat, but the brand also recommends trying it in an Old Fashioned.
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Several other Dolphins also have stood atop all of their peers in something neat, at some point.
Adjective
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Tristan Peters made a vain dive for the ball, which got past him and allowed both baserunners to score.
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Sending him out to sell a vague agreement with Iran is unlikely to win over the hawks who wonder why Tehran is getting off so lightly and whether the war was in vain.
Adjective
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Between the scalloped trim, playful print, and comfy fit, this statement-making two-piece was a no-brainer for my trip.
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The away uniform is yellow with turquoise, pink, and orange trim, inspired by the historic, colorful architecture of downtown Willemstad.
Adjective
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Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.
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The Pitt definitely feels like the type of workplace where conceited doctors-in-training are pretty much guaranteed to quickly get knocked down a peg.
Adjective
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Self-righteous and self-important, priggish and nagging.
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Only this time the interns are boring Gen Z stereotypes (obsessed with TikTok, too sensitive, too emotional, too self-important).
Cite this Entry
“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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