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Snide vs Smug - What's the difference?

snide | smug |

As adjectives the difference between snide and smug

is that snide is disparaging or derisive in an insinuative way while smug is irritatingly pleased with oneself; self-satisfied.

As a noun snide

is an underhanded, tricky person given to sharp practise; a sharper; a beat.

As a verb smug is

to make smug, or spruce.

snide

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Disparaging or derisive in an insinuative way.
    • Don't make snide remarks to me.
  • Tricky; deceptive; false; spurious; contemptible.
    • He was a snide lawyer.
    I received a shipment of snide goods.

    References

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An underhanded, tricky person given to sharp practise; a sharper; a beat.

    • Anagrams

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    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

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