Smug

Pronunciation: /smʌɡ/

Definitions of smug

adjective having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements

Example Sentences

A1 She felt smug after winning the game.

A2 The cat looked smug after catching the mouse.

B1 He had a smug expression on his face when he received the award.

B2 The politician's smug attitude towards the opposition angered many voters.

C1 Her smug demeanor towards her coworkers made her unpopular in the office.

C2 The CEO's smug sense of superiority alienated many employees.

Examples of smug in a Sentence

formal The lawyer had a smug expression on his face after winning the case.

informal She always gets so smug when she proves someone wrong.

slang He was acting all smug after acing the test.

figurative The cat looked smug after catching the mouse.

Grammatical Forms of smug

• past tense: smugged
• plural: smugs
• comparative: smugger
• superlative: smuggest
• present tense: smug
• future tense: will smug
• perfect tense: have smugged
• continuous tense: is smugging
• singular: smug
• positive degree: smug
• infinitive: to smug
• gerund: smugging
• participle: smugged

Origin and Evolution of smug

First Known Use: 1551 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'smug' originated from the Old English word 'smug' or 'smugg' which meant tidy or trim.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'smug' evolved to describe someone who is self-satisfied or complacent, often in a negative connotation.