World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesSmugness
/ˈsmʌɡ.nəs/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
An excessive and irritating display of satisfaction with oneself, one's achievements, or one's advantages.
"His underlying smugness made it difficult for anyone to offer him constructive criticism." - 2
A complacent attitude showing a sense of superiority over others.
"The political commentators criticized the administration for a perceived smugness after the election results."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the adjective 'smug', which originated in the late 16th century meaning 'trim, spruce, or neat', likely from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch words such as 'smuck' meaning neat or smart. Over time, the meaning shifted in the 18th century from neatness of appearance to a self-satisfied and complacent attitude regarding one's achievements or status, to which the suffix '-ness' was added to form the noun.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Smugness"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Smugness" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
suffisance
Transliteration: syfiˈsɑ̃s
Script: suffisance
"Sa suffisance agaçait tous ses collègues de bureau."
Selbstgefälligkeit
Transliteration: ˈzɛlpstɡəˌfɛlɪçkaɪt
"Seine Selbstgefälligkeit war bei den Verhandlungen unerträglich."
presunzione
Transliteration: presunˈtsjone
"La sua presunzione gli impediva di vedere i propri errori."
petulancia
Transliteration: petuˈlansja
"Nadie soportaba la petulancia con la que hablaba de sus éxitos."
jactância
Transliteration: ʒakˈtɐ̃sjɐ
"A jactância do diretor irritava toda a equipe."
आत्मसंतोष
Transliteration: aatmasantosh
"उसकी बातों में एक अजीब सा आत्मसंतोष झलकता था।"
自满
Transliteration: zì mǎn
"他成功后的自满情绪引起了大家的注意。"
우쭐함
Transliteration: ucculham
"그의 우쭐함은 주변 사람들을 불편하게 만들었다."
自己満足
Transliteration: jikomanzoku
"彼の態度には拭いきれない自己満足が表れていた。"
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