Smug

Pronunciation

• enPR: smÅ­g, IPA: /smʌɡ/
• Rhymes: -ʌɡ

Origin

From Middle Low German smuk ("neat, trim, spruce, elegant, fair"), from Middle High German gesmuc ("ornament"), from smücken ("to ornament, adorn, originally to dress"), a secondary form of Middle High German smiegen ("to creep into, hence to put on (a garment)"); see smock.

Full definition of smug

Adjective

1. Irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied.Kate looked extremely smug this morning.
2. (obsolete) Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.
• Robynson (More's Utopia)They be so smug and smooth.
• De Quinceythe smug and scanty draperies of his style
• Beaumont and FletcherA young, smug, handsome holiness has no fellow.

Synonyms

• self-satisfied
• complacent

Derived terms

• smugly
• smugness

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To make smug, or spruce.
• DrytonThus said, he smugged his beard, and stroked up fair.

Anagrams

• gums
• mugs