
Smug
Negative Nuance
Smug often implies a negative judgment about someone's self-satisfaction.

His smug attitude after the promotion didn't win him any friends.
Non-Verbal Cues
Smugness is frequently conveyed through non-verbal expressions, such as a smirk.

A smug grin spread across his face as he revealed the secret.
Often Pejorative
'Smug' usually describes someone's annoying level of self-satisfaction and is rarely a compliment.

She gave a smug reply to their concerns, not realizing she was being insensitive.
Compare with
ArrogantComplacentConceitEgotisticallyHaughtyOverweeningProudVain
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