Modesty and Smugness

Opposite meaning words

Modesty noun - The absence of any feelings of being better than others.

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Smugness is an antonym for modesty.

Nearby Words: modest, moderation, modestly, Modesta

Smugness noun - An often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements.

Usage example: the sense of smugness that can come with too many easy victories

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Nearby Words: smug, smugly

Cite this Source

Smugness and Modesty. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/modesty/smugness

Modesty & Smugness. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/modesty/smugness>.

Smugness or Modesty. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/modesty/smugness.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "modesty" and "smugness" have occurred on timeline