as in ingratiation
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Recent Examples of smarm
That barreling is assisted mightily by the two male characters in the narrative, who take turns maximizing smarm and misogyny.
—
David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
Occasionally, these DMs teeter dangerously on the edge of smarm, like a small orange card, taped to a light pole, with a handwritten insistence:
But usually, whether ephemeral guerrilla art, stern warnings or idle musings, the messages have a similar effect.
—Dodai Stewart, New York Times, 26 June 2023
For at least some of the writers working in their employ, especially at Gawker, this was not merely a business rivalry but an ideological battle: irony vs. earnestness, criticism vs. civility, snark vs. smarm.
—Max Read, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
Instead of revealing the swagger of Sinatra or the self-torment of Marlon Brando or the wiliness of Jack Nicholson or the smarm of Leonardo DiCaprio, he’s subdued himself while more confident performers, such as Corrin and Pugh, snatch the spotlight.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for smarm 
David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
Occasionally, these DMs teeter dangerously on the edge of smarm, like a small orange card, taped to a light pole, with a handwritten insistence:
But usually, whether ephemeral guerrilla art, stern warnings or idle musings, the messages have a similar effect.
—Dodai Stewart, New York Times, 26 June 2023
For at least some of the writers working in their employ, especially at Gawker, this was not merely a business rivalry but an ideological battle: irony vs. earnestness, criticism vs. civility, snark vs. smarm.
—Max Read, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
Instead of revealing the swagger of Sinatra or the self-torment of Marlon Brando or the wiliness of Jack Nicholson or the smarm of Leonardo DiCaprio, he’s subdued himself while more confident performers, such as Corrin and Pugh, snatch the spotlight.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for smarm
Thesaurus Entries Near smarm
Cite this Entry
“Smarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarm. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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