SMUG Synonyms: 178 Similar and Opposite Words

smug

adjective

ˈsməg

Definition of smug

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of smug Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026 Federer, especially—unperturbed, smug, highly punchable—seems to have brought an almost martyr-like tenacity out of Nadal. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 6 June 2026 Most smug articles and books that claim to provide quick fixes come off as tone-deaf or even counterproductive. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for smug

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smug

Adjective

Ever-sensible Elinor, who never asks for much, has already met, and fallen for, Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), Fanny’s brother, as kind and modest as Fanny is arrogant.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Hal and Kate, having misread Trowbridge’s shock and dismay at the tragic death of Austin Dennison as a worse-than-usual bit of arrogant posturing, switch to Bad Cop mode.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

One of the earlier protests in the South Bay saw a tidy column of around 50 protesters walk south on the boardwalk connecting Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach.

— Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
For pickup owners, this approach can be particularly useful because a tidy cabin means less time searching for essentials and less clutter competing for valuable space.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of tidy

Adjective

The locker real estate in the team’s second arena was something the proud parent didn’t even consider as part of his son’s Heat takeover.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Musk’s forthright, crusty dad Errol sounds almost proud that something was bullied out of his son, but the movie avoids filling out that traumatic childhood.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

Played by Jesse Eisenberg, Zuckerberg is dramatized as a conceited, socially awkward college student who repeatedly burns allies in pursuit of power.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, Johnson reprises his role as Moana's bantering reluctant partner, the shapeshifting trickster demigod Maui, alongside Jemaine Clement again voicing the conceited giant crustacean Tamatoa.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026

Definition of conceited

Adjective

The trim, Venezuelan-leaning restaurant sits at the nexus of the fast-developing Melrose Hill, across the street from Little Fish and Kuya Lord and around the corner from Bar Étoile.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Drawing on his experiences as a wrestler and 24-hour gym-bro style, fits were kept trim so Dong could wear, say, a pair of training shorts ($98) with a matching black quarter zip ($155) to workout in between market appointments in Paris.

— Ari Stark, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of trim

Adjective

These species, along with teal and shovelers, often get categorized by self-important duck hunters as scrap ducks or bonus ducks.

— Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2026
Public officials attend each year to bear witness and show their respects, not deliver self-important speeches.

— Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of self-important

Adjective

That raises the possibility that investors are dangerously complacent about the probability of a rate hike in October.

— Matt Peterson, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Former president Barack Obama expressed surprise at Democrats’ expanding midterm map at a private fundraiser Wednesday night, but warned donors not to get complacent about the party’s chances, according to excerpts provided to The Washington Post.

— Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of complacent

Browse Nearby Words

smudgy

smug

smuggle

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“Smug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smug. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of smug

adjective

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