What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Blissful vs Smug - What's the difference?

blissful | smug |

In obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between blissful and smug

is that blissful is (obsolete) blessed; glorified while smug is (obsolete) studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.

As adjectives the difference between blissful and smug

is that blissful is extremely happy; full of joy; experiencing, indicating, causing, or characterized by bliss while smug is irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied.

As a verb smug is

(obsolete|transitive) to make smug, or spruce.

blissful

English

Alternative forms

* blissfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Extremely happy; full of joy; experiencing, indicating, causing, or characterized by bliss.
  • * 1738 , , "London: A Poem in Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal", lines 25-26,
  • In pleasing dreams the blissful age renew,
    And call Britannia's glories back to view;
  • * 1868 , , Little Women , ch. 27,
  • She ... led a blissful life, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather, while she sat safe and happy in an imaginary world.
  • * 1983 , James Hijiya, "American Gravestones and Attitudes toward Death: A Brief History," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society , vol. 127, no. 5., page 349,
  • New England carvers between the 1720s and the 1750s transformed, step by step, the winged skull into the winged face, adding flesh to bare bone and turning the toothy grin of death into the blissful smile of a saved soul.
  • (obsolete) Blessed; glorified.
  • * c1387 , , "The Prioress' Tale," in The Canterbury Tales ,
  • Thus had this widow her little son y-taught
    Our blissful Lady, Christe's mother dear,
    To worship aye

    Usage notes

    "Blissful" occasionally has the extra connotation that a person is extremely happy because he or she fails to recognize or accept certain adversities or other harsh realities.

    Synonyms

    * ecstatic * elated * euphoric * joyful * orgasmic * overjoyed * rapturous * on cloud nine * See also

    References

    * * * * Oxford English Dictionary , second edition (1989) * Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary (1987-1996)

    smug

    English

    Adjective

    (smugger)
  • Irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied.
  • Kate looked extremely smug this morning.
  • (obsolete) Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.
  • * Robynson (More's Utopia)
  • They be so smug and smooth.
  • * De Quincey
  • the smug and scanty draperies of his style
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • A young, smug , handsome holiness has no fellow.

    Synonyms

    * self-satisfied * complacent

    Derived terms

    * smugly * smugness

    Verb

    (smugg)
  • (obsolete) To make smug, or spruce.
  • * Dryton
  • Thus said, he smugged his beard, and stroked up fair.
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * *