smug

Everyday

1. Smug means too pleased with yourself and your own cleverness, luck or goodness, in a way that annoys other people. tree →
2. (of a look or smile) showing that feeling. tree →

In the lessons

In stories smug describes a character who shows off or looks down on others; the reader usually does not like them. In everyday life children might say «Don't be so smug!» to a winner who boasts. Phrases: a smug smile, smug look, feel smug, smugly.

Examples

• He looked smug after beating everyone at chess. tree →
• She gave a smug smile when the teacher praised her. tree →
• Don't be smug; next time you might lose. tree →
• The cat sat on the warm cushion looking very smug. tree →
• I felt a bit smug that I had remembered my umbrella. tree →
• The smug rabbit stopped to nap and lost the race to the tortoise. tree →
• He smugly told everyone his score. tree →

Note

Adverb smugly, noun smugness. Comparative smugger, smuggest (double g). Smug is different from proud: being proud of good work is fine; being smug means showing off and looking down on others.