SELF-SATISFIED Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

self-satisfied

adjective

ˌself-ˈsa-təs-ˌfīd

Definition of self-satisfied

as in smug

having too high an opinion of oneself a self-satisfied woman who thought that if she could balance two careers, everyone else should too

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-satisfied

Adjective

Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.

— Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 17 June 2026

Definition of smug

Adjective

Turns out America’s enthusiasm for itself has gone into a bit of a rut—more than 80% of Americans felt proud in 2010, but only 53% feel that way today.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
The New York Film Festival is proud to welcome back Cinephile for our fifth year of NYFF Trivia Night events during the festival at the EBM Amphitheater!

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of proud

Adjective

Each of these decisions laid the groundwork for the war on Iran today, one that started without a clear strategy on the arrogant expectation of a quick victory.

— Alexander Langlois, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
The data center industry is only one face of an arrogant oligarchy that people believe now runs Congress, the courts, the White House, state legislatures and local governments.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Meanwhile, Johnson reprises his role as Moana's bantering reluctant partner, the shapeshifting trickster demigod Maui, alongside Jemaine Clement again voicing the conceited giant crustacean Tamatoa.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Avoid Burying Praise in Negatives To avoid making children too conceited, parents might bury praise in the midst of negatives.

— Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026

Definition of conceited

Adjective

Bueckers talked about what the team’s mindset has to be, saying that the players have to stay focused and disciplined while not getting complacent.

— Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026
But neither country can afford to be complacent in its lead in AI hardware, said Jeremy Chih-Cheng Chang, the institute’s executive director.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of complacent

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“Self-satisfied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-satisfied. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of self-satisfied

adjective

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