Antonyms for smugness

Grammar : Noun

Spell : smuhg

Phonetic Transcription : smʌg

Definition of smugness

Origin : 1550s, "trim, neat, spruce, smart," possibly an alteration of Low German smuk "trim, neat," from Middle Low German smücken "to adorn" (originally "to dress," secondary sense of words meaning "to creep or slip into"), from the same source as smock. The meaning "having a self-satisfied air" is from 1701, an extension of the sense of "smooth, sleek" (1580s), which was commonly used of attractive women and girls. Related: Smugly; smugness.

As in arrogance : noun exaggerated self-opinion
As in pride : noun arrogance, self-importance
As in self-satisfaction : noun pride, contentment
As in vainglory : noun pride
As in vanity : noun conceit, egotism
As in complacency : noun contentment
As in loftiness : noun arrogance
As in lordliness : noun arrogance
As in overbearingness : noun arrogance
As in pretentiousness : noun self-importance
As in pridefulness : noun arrogance
As in proudness : noun arrogance
As in superciliousness : noun arrogance
As in conceit : noun egotism

Example sentences :

There were both earnestness and tenderness in his tones—the smugness of the physician was gone.
Extract from : « The Landloper » by Holman Day

"Our regular price," and you catch a sneer beneath the smugness of the Voice.
Extract from : « Roast Beef, Medium » by Edna Ferber

Nor did du Fresne's smugness help Lindsay's assurance a bit.
Extract from : « The Ambassador » by Samuel Kimball Merwin

They are inimical to smugness and to complacent satisfaction.
Extract from : « The Purple Heights » by Marie Conway Oemler

But, is there not just a faint suggestion of smugness in her mien?
Extract from : « Plum Pudding » by Christopher Morley

It was not a smile of smugness or conceit, but rather of honest satisfaction.
Extract from : « Treachery in Outer Space » by Carey Rockwell and Louis Glanzman

Morris's work made men think, broke down the smugness of precedent, and enabled printing to become an art.
Extract from : « The Art of the Book » by Bernard H. Newdigate

A big sleeping-car autocrat, in the smugness and false security of a fat run, is going to err.
Extract from : « How To Write Special Feature Articles » by Willard Grosvenor Bleyer

Of the smugness of the kind Mrs. Treharne meant when she employed the word, there was not an atom in Louise's composition.
Extract from : « The Eddy » by Clarence L. Cullen

Smugness was easy in a world without dust or carrion smell or craters that had been factories.
Extract from : « Victory » by Lester del Rey

Synonyms for smugness

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019