smug

smug — adjective

1. showing or feeling an exaggerated sense of one's own achievements, knowledge, or

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing or feeling an exaggerated sense of one's own achievements, knowledge, or superiority, usually in a way that annoys other people

Example

Felix wore a smug smile after winning the chess tournament.

collocation: smug smile

Constanza felt smug about finishing the project ahead of schedule.

collocation: feel smug about + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • smug about
  • smug smile
  • smug look
  • smug expression
  • smug grin
  • smug tone
  • smug satisfaction
  • smug remark
Synonyms
  • self-satisfied

    more neutral; can describe quiet, deserved satisfaction without the negative edge

  • complacent

    focuses on being unaware of problems or risks rather than actively showing off

  • conceited

    focuses on an overall high opinion of one's own abilities, not just a specific achievement

  • superior

    emphasizes looking down on others rather than being pleased with oneself

Antonyms
  • humble

    opposite attitude — not thinking too highly of one's own importance

  • modest

    opposite in the sense of not boasting or drawing attention to achievements

Grammar Patterns

smug + about + noun/gerund

smug + that-clause

smug look/smile/expression/tone

Usage Note

This term is always negative — it describes someone who not only feels proud but visibly displays that pride in a way that others find irritating or off-putting. It is especially common paired with nouns for facial expressions (smile, grin, look, expression) or for a person's tone of voice.

Common Mistakes

He looked smug when he received the graduation certificate.' (using smug for genuine pride).
He looked proud when he received the graduation certificate.
smug implies annoying self-satisfaction, not healthy pride.

Word family

  • smugly
    adverbB2
  • smugness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Smug, complacent, conceited, and self-satisfied all describe a person who thinks well of themselves, but they differ in tone and what they imply about the person's behaviour. Smug is the most openly negative: it describes someone who visibly displays their satisfaction in a way that irritates others — for example, a student who smirks after getting the highest test score. Complacent suggests being so satisfied that one fails to notice problems or risks; it is less about showing off and more about being unaware or lazy. Conceited focuses on an excessively high opinion of one's own overall worth or ability, often with a sense of superiority that looks down on others. Self-satisfied is the mildest and most neutral — it can describe a quiet, well-deserved sense of fulfillment. A researcher can feel self-satisfied after years of work on a discovery, but the moment they start bragging at conferences, their colleagues will call them smug.

smug ↗complacentconceitedself-satisfied

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

Low GermanEnglish

Smug probably comes from a Low German word meaning 'neat, trim, or well-groomed'. In early English it described someone who was tidy in appearance. Over the 18th and 19th centuries the meaning moved from outward neatness to an inward feeling of being 'neatly satisfied' with oneself, eventually taking on the modern negative sense of annoying, visible self-satisfaction.