Smugness: quick facts
Smugness is a self-satisfied feeling of superiority, often shown when a person believes they were right or are better off than others. It blends pride with a touch of complacency and can carry a quietly pleased, even…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Neutral
Emotion family / blend
Self-conscious
Typical triggers
Being right, others' errors, perceived superiority, getting one's way
How it's expressed
Self-satisfied smirk, raised chin, relaxed superiority, knowing look
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.