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Smug vs Boastful - What's the difference?

smug | boastful |

As adjectives the difference between smug and boastful

is that smug is irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied while boastful is tending to boast or brag.

As a verb smug

is to make smug, or spruce.

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)

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * *

    boastful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * boastfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Tending to boast or brag.
    • He wrote a boastful autobiography, recording all his great deeds.

    Derived terms

    * boastfulness

    See also

    * proud

    Anagrams

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