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Swarm vs Smarm - What's the difference?

swarm | smarm |

In intransitive terms the difference between swarm and smarm

is that swarm is to teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc while smarm is to fawn, to be unctuous.

In transitive terms the difference between swarm and smarm

is that swarm is to overwhelm as by an opposing army while smarm is to address in a fawning and unctuous manner.

swarm

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A large number of insects, especially when in motion or (for bees) migrating to a new colony.
  • * Milton
    • a deadly swarm of hornets
  • A mass of people, animals or things in motion or turmoil.
    • a swarm of meteorites
  • * Addison
    • those prodigious swarms that had settled themselves in every part of it [Italy]
  • (label) A group of nodes sharing the same torrent in a BitTorrent network.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To move as a swarm .
  • *
  • *:There is an hour or two, after the passengers have embarked, which is disquieting and fussy. Mail bags, so I understand, are being put on board. Stewards, carrying cabin trunks, swarm in the corridors.
  • (lb) To teem, or be overrun with insects, people, etc.
  • *(Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • *:Every place swarms with soldiers.
  • (lb) To fill a place as a swarm .
  • (lb) To overwhelm as by an opposing army.
  • To climb by gripping with arms and legs alternately.
  • * (1748–1828)
  • *:At the top was placed a piece of money, as a prize for those who could swarm up and seize it.
  • *1919 , , (The Moon and Sixpence) ,
  • *:She called out, and a boy came running along. He swarmed up a tree, and presently threw down a ripe nut. Ata pierced a hole in it, and the doctor took a long, refreshing draught.
  • To breed multitudes.
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Not so thick swarmed once the soil / Bedropped with blood of Gorgon.

    • See also

    *

    Anagrams

    * (l) English collective nouns

    smarm

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • smarmy language or behavior
  • *{{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 20 , author=Nathan Rabin , title=TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Marge Gets A Job” (season 4, episode 7; originally aired 11/05/1992) , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=Phil Hartman, the voice and soul of McClure, was the king of making everything sounds cheerful and positive, no matter how grim. McClure was the personification of smarm . He alone could say, “Your children are missing. I know because I murdered them with my own hands!” and make it sound like good news.}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fawn, to be unctuous.
  • * 1957 ,
    • He rose ... on his wife's fortune and judicious smarming of powerful people.
  • To address in a fawning and unctuous manner.

    • Anagrams

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