smarmy
adjective /ˈsmɑː.mi/
/ˈsmɑːr-/ informal disapprovingDefinition
› extremely polite or helpful or showing a lot of respect in a way that is annoying or does not seem sincere: She was trying to be friendly, but she just seemed smarmy and insincere.Affected and insincere smarm /smɑːm/
/smɑːrm/ verb [I or T] › He's always trying to smarm his way into a promotion.Affected and insincere smarmily /-mɪ.li/ adverb › "Certainly, madam," he replied smarmily.Affected and insincere
/smɑːrm/ verb [I or T] › He's always trying to smarm his way into a promotion.Affected and insincere smarmily /-mɪ.li/ adverb › "Certainly, madam," he replied smarmily.Affected and insincere(Definition of smarmy adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Affected & insincere, but you might be interested in these topics from the Honesty and dishonesty topic area:
- Blunt and direct in speech & behaviour
- Cheating & tricking
- Dishonest
- Dishonest people
- Disloyalty, betrayal & treason
- Faking & pretending
- Honesty, openness & sincerity
- Lies, lying & hypocrisy
- Loyal, faithful & dependable
- Naive & trusting
- Plotting & trapping
- Praising insincerely or too eagerly
- Sly & devious
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Synonyms and related words:
- affectation noun
- affected adjective
- artificial adjective
- arty-farty adjective
- campy adjective
- cheesy adjective (BAD STYLE)
- fey adjective
- forced adjective
- glib adjective
- histrionic adjective
- histrionics noun
- meretricious adjective
- pious adjective (PRETENDING)
- preciously adverb
- precocious adjective
- pretension noun
- pretentious adjective
- pseud(o)- prefix
- slick adjective
- theatrical adjective (BEHAVIOUR)
Topic:
Affected & insincere
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