adjective · rare

smarmy

smarmy · smarmier · smarmiest

жирний, масний, сальний

льстивый

schmierig, kriecherisch, pomadig, gefühlsduselig

Falsely earnest, smug, ingratiating, or piousFalsely earnest, smug, ingratiating, or pious.

ⓘ

UK/ˈsmɑː.mi/US/ˈsmɑɹ.mi/

» Stop being smarmy, you know that's rude.

Meaning

2 senses

Falsely earnest, smug, ingratiating, or pious.
a smarmy salesman with a big smile
schmierig, kriecherisch, pomadig
льсти́выйlʹstívyj
(dated, rare)Unctuous, greasy, as hair from pomade.

More definitions

unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech

Examples

4 sentences

Stop being smarmy, you know that's rude.
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He was so sarcastic and smarmy that it was unprofessional.
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Her smarmy remark left a bad taste in my mouth.
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If you are going to be smarmy about it, I believe I have nothing more to say.
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Translations

6 languages

Русский

By meaning 1

Falsely earnest, smug, or ingratiating:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

Falsely earnest, smug, or ingratiating:

Origin

From smarm + -y. Apparently coined by "B.R.L., of Brighton" with sense "saying treacly thi

From smarm + -y. Apparently coined by "B.R.L., of Brighton" with sense "saying treacly things which do not sound genuine" in a competition for neologisms in The Academy (London) published on 14 January 1899.

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