smug
Americanadjective
-
contentedly confident of one's ability, superiority, or correctness; complacent.
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trim; spruce; smooth; sleek.
adjective
-
excessively self-satisfied or complacent
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archaic trim or neat
Other Word Forms
- smugly adverb
- smugness noun
- unsmug adjective
- unsmugness noun
Etymology
Origin of smug
First recorded in 1545–55; perhaps from Middle Dutch smuc “neat, pretty, nice”
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.
No amount of calming coloring is going to get me in examdomination mode with Jonah smiling that smug smile from across the room.
From Literature
My thoughts flashed immediately to Elliot and his smug confidence that he was going to win that test and level up.
From Literature
He had such a smug and teasing look on his face, like he knew a secret about me.
From Literature
Mr. Powell, smirking and smug, tells his life story to a visiting priest who drops by his cell for a last conversation.
Chica looked as smug as a green turtle can look, and didn’t seem to mind at all.
From Literature
Definitions 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.
