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Smug vs Patronizing - What's the difference?

smug | patronizing |

As adjectives the difference between smug and patronizing

is that smug is irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied while patronizing is offensively condescending.

As verbs the difference between smug and patronizing

is that smug is (obsolete|transitive) to make smug, or spruce while patronizing is .

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

    * *

    patronizing

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • offensively condescending
  • Synonyms

    * (l)

    Verb

    (head)