smug
Too pleased with yourself in a way that annoys other people.
smug in a sentence
- Priya wore a smug grin after beating the whole class at spelling, again.
- Tom looked smug when his paper boat crossed the pond first, and he would not stop mentioning it.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to smug?
- Ahumble
- Bself-satisfied
- Cmodest
- Dshy
Show the answer
B: self-satisfied. The other three mean the opposite of smug.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to smug?
- Aproud
- Bboastful
- Cself-satisfied
- Dhumble
Show the answer
D: humble. The other three mean nearly the same as smug.
Words that mean something similar
self-satisfied, proud, boastful
Words that mean the opposite
humble, modest, shy
Careful: smug is not haughty
Haughty looks down on others. Smug looks pleased with itself. Read why children mix them up.
More words about character & personality
- sober: Serious and calm, not silly or playful.
- sprightly: Lively and full of energy, especially for someone old.
- staunch: Very loyal and firm in your support.
- steadfast: Staying firm and not giving up, no matter what happens.
- stern: Strict and serious, expecting to be obeyed.
- stubborn: Refusing to change your mind, even when you might be wrong.
- tenacious: Holding on and refusing to give up.
- tentative: Careful and unsure, as if not quite confident yet.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test