as in vanity
an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements
the sense of smugness that can come with too many easy victories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smugness
Noun
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Shrugging off physical vanity and even declining to correct strangers on their nonbinary pronouns, Gibson retreats from identity in the face of an all-consuming and transformative illness.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Jan. 2025 -
Whether the room is used for overlapping daily routines or as a space to rest and relax, popular features include separate vanities, dual sinks, and showers with multiple showerheads and plenty of space for two people.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But if the first week of this administration is any sign, my fellow Catholic JD Vance will choose the ego of Donald Trump over the gospel of Jesus Christ.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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Every aspect of my being, all of my ego, my insecurities, my strengths.—
Eliza Griswold,
The New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Individuals can take pride in smaller achievements, knowing that their contribution is bringing us closer to the end goal.—
Farzana Abdulhusein,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Corporate philanthropy, too, has diminished, which is a particular problem in a city where business leaders once took pride in making generous contributions to the arts.—
David Allen Jenn Ackerman,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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All of which meant that when economists gathered in San Francisco this month for the annual meeting of the American Economic Association, there was a sense that their famous confidence — critics would say arrogance — had been, if not shattered, certainly dealt a body blow.—
Ben Casselman,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
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Relevant reality skills: Rob, while deadly charming, has always played Survivor by putting his confidence (some would say cockiness) and expertise (some would say arrogance) on full display.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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That results in the appearance of company complacency.—
Anne Lackey,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Despite this approach, Orr says many companies suffer from a culture of complacency at the top.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Corporate leaders will be called upon to overcome self-satisfaction with progress made in the advancement of gender parity for women, especially those in senior and middle management.—
Michael Peregrine,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
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Megalopolis posits a world of clueless liberal self-satisfaction, missing every point of contemporary alertness to ongoing lawfare and sedition.—
Armond White,
National Review,
4 Oct. 2024
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Thesaurus Entries Near smugness
Cite this Entry
“Smugness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smugness. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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