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Smug vs Arrogance - What's the difference?

smug | arrogance |

As an adjective smug

is irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied.

As a verb smug

is to make smug, or spruce.

As a noun arrogance is

the act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption.

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

    * *

    arrogance

    Alternative forms

    * arrogaunce

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • The act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption.
  • Synonyms

    * See also .