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smugness

Meanings
  • noun

    An attitude of self-satisfaction, typically concealed under friendliness or politeness, that arises from superiority in some respect or possession of knowledge or competence that is not shared.

    - "He had a smugness about him that made everyone else feel inferior."
    - "She couldn't help but feel a sense of smugness when she saw her competitors fail."
Rhymes
Words rhyming with smugness
muggles , slugs , bugs , juggles , lugs
Variants
List of all variants of smugness that leads to same result
smug , smugger , smuggest , smugly , smugness , smugnesses
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Originally meant 'self-satisfaction' or 'contentment' in Middle English.

Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

  1. The term 'smugness' is derived from the Old English word 'smugan', which means 'to be content' or 'to be pleased'.

  2. Smugness is often associated with the 'Mondegreen' effect, where people mishear or misinterpret a word or phrase based on its similarity to another word or phrase.

Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

  1. arrogance: Arrogance is a similar concept to smugness, but it is often more overt and less concealed. While smugness implies a sense of superiority based on knowledge or competence, arrogance implies a sense of superiority based on birth, wealth, or power.

  2. hubris: Hubris is a Greek term that refers to excessive pride or self-confidence. It is often used to describe a character flaw that leads to downfall.

Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities

  1. Meanwhile, supporters are "smug" and righteous that the person who manages the world's leading stock exchange deserves every million.

    - Susan Lee,{it}Wall Street Journal{/it},10 Sept. 2003

  2. Alice Norcross Pratt, a local stay-at-home mom, is portrayed as "smug" and pious, yet we also see glimmers of her hidden longings.

    - Elizabeth Graver,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},27 May 2001

  3. She was tall and beautiful and multilingual and fiercely opinionated. One of her opinions held that the rags that passed for literary magazines on campus were so "smug" and tame and insular that it was hopeless to even try to reform them; they simply needed to be replaced.

    - Tom Perrotta,{it}Joe College{/it},2000

  4. Once, Roy dared shooters to beat him with a shot between his legs. Now, he no longer passes out such "smug" invitations. The goalie who transformed the butterfly technique into an art form has humbly decided to keep his skates a little closer together …

    - Mark Kiszla,{it}ESPN{/it},28 May 2001
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Smugness is often portrayed negatively in literature and popular culture, as it is seen as an obstacle to empathy and understanding. It can be found in various forms of art, music, and literature, such as the character of Mr. Collins in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

How to Memorize "smugness"

  1. visualize

    - Imagine a person with a smug expression on their face, looking down on others with a sense of superiority.

  2. associate

    - Associate the word 'smugness' with the feeling of being superior to others.

  3. mnemonics

    - Create a mnemonic using the acronym S-M-U-G-N-E-S: Self-satisfied, Masking, Underestimating, Superiority, Arrogant, Narcissistic, Exaggerated, Smiling.

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