snug

[ snuhg ]

adjective

, snug·ger, snug·gest.

1. warmly comfortable or cozy, as a place, accommodations, etc.:

   a snug little house.

2. fitting closely, as a garment:

   a snug jacket.

3. more or less compact or limited in size, and sheltered or warm:

   a snug harbor.

4. trim, neat, or compactly arranged, as a ship or its parts.

   Synonyms: orderly, ordered, tidy

5. comfortably circumstanced, as persons.
6. pleasant or agreeable, especially in a small, exclusive way:

   a snug coterie of writers.

   Synonyms: cozy, intimate

7. enabling one to live in comfort:

   a snug fortune.

8. secret; concealed; well-hidden:

   a snug hideout.

verb (used without object)

, snugged, snug·ging.

1. to lie closely or comfortably; nestle.

   Synonyms: snuggle, cuddle

verb (used with object)

, snugged, snug·ging.

1. to make snug.

   Synonyms: tidy, arrange, settle

2. Nautical. to prepare for a storm by taking in sail, lashing deck gear, etc. (usually followed by down ).

   Synonyms: secure

adverb

1. in a snug manner:

   The shirt fit snug around the neck.

noun

1. British. a small, secluded room in a tavern, as for private parties.

snug

/ snʌɡ /

adjective

1. comfortably warm and well-protected; cosy

   the children were snug in bed during the blizzard

2. small but comfortable

   a snug cottage

3. well-ordered; compact

   a snug boat

4. sheltered and secure

   a snug anchorage

5. fitting closely and comfortably
6. offering safe concealment

noun

1. (in Britain and Ireland) one of the bars in certain pubs, offering intimate seating for only a few persons
2. engineering a small peg under the head of a bolt engaging with a slot in the bolted component to prevent the bolt turning when the nut is tightened

verb

1. to make or become comfortable and warm
2. tr nautical to make (a vessel) ready for a storm by lashing down gear

Derived Forms

• ˈsnugly, adverb
• ˈsnugness, noun

Other Words From

• snug·ly adverb
• snug·ness noun
• un·snug adjective
• un·snug·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of snug¹

First recorded in 1575–85; perhaps from Old Norse snøggr “short-haired”; cognate with Swedish snygg “neat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of snug¹

C16 (in the sense: prepared for storms (used of a ship)): related to Old Icelandic snöggr short-haired, Swedish snygg tidy, Low German snögger smart

Example Sentences

In the wake of the audio leak scandal, the incumbent wrapped himself in latinidad like a tamale snug inside a corn husk — and he still lost.

From Los Angeles Times

Attendants fitted me with a snug Vo2 max mask, which was synced to a nearby laptop.

From Los Angeles Times

A snug frame of a flower bed in full bloom is interrupted by vomit.

From Salon

The extent of the abuse my father perpetrated was not revealed to me until a little over a year after he was washed, wrapped, and put snug in the ground at the foot of that beech tree.

From Slate

Attendants fitted me with a snug Vo2 max mask, which was synced to a nearby laptop.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comfortable
• comfy
• cushy
• neat
• tight