Wordwyrt

smugness

/ˈsmʌɡnəs/SMUHG-nuhs
/ˈsmʌɡnəs/SMUHG-nuhs

Meaningthe state or quality of being smug

Common meaning: the state or quality of being smug (inferred)

Journey through time

  1. Danishsmuk‘pretty, fine’source
  2. Early English spellingsmoogsource
  3. Englishsmug‘too pleased with oneself’
  4. Englishformed in English from smugsmugness‘the state or quality of being smug (inferred)’ · today

Sources & notes

Inferred source: no dictionary we use has an entry for this exact word. Its history is worked out from closely related, listed words in the same family, and we are trusting that link, so bear that in mind. Inferred meaning: the state or quality of being smug. It can be inferred from any of: smug.

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Formed in English from smug + -ness (inferred: this exact word is not listed in our dictionaries).

Source words

  • smuk Danish · source word “neat, fine”

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