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Smug vs Pretentious - What's the difference?

smug | pretentious |

As adjectives the difference between smug and pretentious

is that smug is irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied while pretentious is marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

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

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    Anagrams

    * *

    pretentious

    English

    Alternative forms

    *

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.
    • Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.
  • Ostentatious; intended to impress others.
    • Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.

    Synonyms

    * poseur * See also

    Antonyms

    * unpretentious

    Derived terms

    * pretentiously * pretentiousness

    Related terms

    * pretend * pretender * pretense * pretension

    References

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