[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/smug/)

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# smug

adjective (smug, smugger, smuggest)

«smug» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Smug means too pleased with yourself and your own cleverness, luck or goodness, in a way that annoys other people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#m1)
2. (of a look or smile) showing that feeling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#m2)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x1)
- She gave a smug smile when the teacher praised her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x2)
- Don't be smug; next time you might lose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x3)
- The cat sat on the warm cushion looking very smug. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x4)
- I felt a bit smug that I had remembered my umbrella. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x5)
- The smug rabbit stopped to nap and lost the race to the tortoise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x6)
- He smugly told everyone his score. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/#x7)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «smug» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/smug/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«smug» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/smug.html) on Mova free.