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Smartass vs Sass - What's the difference?

smartass | sass |

As nouns the difference between smartass and sass

is that smartass is one who is particularly insolent, who tends to make snide remarks or jokes while sass is sarcasm, backtalk, cheek.

As an adjective smartass

is related to or characteristic of a smartass.

As a verb sass is

to talk, to talk back.

smartass

English

Alternative forms

* smart ass * smart arse

Noun

(es)
  • (slang) One who is particularly insolent, who tends to make snide remarks or jokes.
    • Lots of luck, smartass .

    Synonyms

    * smart aleck * smart-aleck * smart alec * smart-alec

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (slang) Related to or characteristic of a smartass.
    • I have had quite enough of your smartass remarks.

    sass

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • (US) sarcasm, backtalk, cheek.
  • *
    • “Say — if you give me much more of your sass I’ll take and bounce a rock off’n your head.”
  • *
    • “Looky here — mind how you talk to me; I’m a-standing about all I can stand now — so don’t gimme no sass .”

    Derived terms

    * sassy

    Verb

    (es)
  • (US) To talk, to talk back.
  • *
    • “The duke he begun to abuse him for an old fool, and the king begun to sass back, and the minute they was fairly at it I lit out and shook the reefs out of my hind legs, and spun down the river road like a deer, for I see our chance; and I made up my mind that it would be a long day before they ever see me and Jim again.”
  • *
    • “But, good land! what did he want to sass back for? You see, it couldn’t do him no good, and it was just nuts for them.”