Pronunciation: /ˈsmʌɡnəs/

Definitions of smugness

noun a feeling of excessive pride or self-satisfaction

Example Sentences

A1 She looked at him with smugness after winning the game.

A2 His smugness was evident when he bragged about his new car.

B1 The politician's smugness was off-putting to many voters.

B2 Despite his smugness, he was unable to hide his insecurities.

C1 Her smugness at being promoted so quickly was irritating to her colleagues.

C2 The CEO's smugness was a result of his company's continued success in the market.

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

Example Sentences

A1 She looked at him with a smug expression after winning the game.

A2 The student's smug attitude annoyed the teacher.

B1 His smugness about his promotion rubbed his coworkers the wrong way.

B2 The politician's smugness was evident in his speech as he declared victory.

C1 Despite his smugness, he was unable to hide his insecurities.

C2 Her smugness was a defense mechanism to cover up her own doubts and fears.

Examples of smugness in a Sentence

formal Her smugness was evident as she presented her flawless argument in the meeting.

informal He couldn't help but show off his new car with a look of pure smugness on his face.

slang She had a real 'holier-than-thou' attitude, full of smugness.

figurative The cat looked at me with smugness after catching a mouse in the house.

Grammatical Forms of smugness

past tense

smugged

plural

smugnesses

comparative

more smug

superlative

most smug

present tense

smug

future tense

will be smug

perfect tense

have been smug

continuous tense

is being smug

singular

smugness

positive degree

smug

infinitive

to smug

gerund

smugging

participle

smugging

Origin and Evolution of smugness

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'smugness' is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'smogen' meaning to squeeze or press together, which evolved into 'smug' meaning trim and spruce.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'smug' came to be associated with self-satisfaction or complacency, leading to the creation of the word 'smugness' to describe this quality in individuals.