smug

Smugness is underrated as a personality flaw. It is not necessarily arrogant, confident, self centred, or self assured - smugitude as a general trait is a nice, human combination of the good and bad.

Smug as a response, however (ie, gloating), is not so nice and should be discouraged.

Smug (?), a. [Of. Scand. or Low German origin; cf. LG. smuck, G. schmuck, Dan. smuk, OSw. smuck, smock, and E. smock, smuggle; cf. G. schmuck ornament. See Smock.]

Studiously neat or nice, especially in dress; spruce; affectedly precise; smooth and prim.

They be so smug and smooth. Robynson (More's Utopia).

The smug and scanty draperies of his style. De Quincey.

A young, smug, handsome holiness has no fellow. Beau & Fl.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Smug, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smugged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Smugging.]

To make smug, or spruce.

[Obs.]

Thus said, he smugged his beard, and stroked up fair. Dryton.

 

© Webster 1913.