Word forms: comparative smarmier, superlative smarmiest
adjective
If you describe someone as smarmy, you dislike them because they are unpleasantly polite and flattering, usually because they want you to like them or to do something forthem.
[British, informal, disapproval]
Rick is slightly smarmy and eager to impress.
Synonyms: obsequious, slimy [British], ingratiating, unctuous More Synonyms of smarmy
smarmy in British English
(ˈsmɑːmɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: smarmier or smarmiest
British informal
obsequiously flattering or unpleasantly suave
Derived forms
smarmily (ˈsmarmily)
adverb
smarminess (ˈsmarminess)
noun
smarmy in American English
(ˈsmɑrmi)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈsmarmier or ˈsmarmiest
British, Informal
flattering in an oily, insincere manner; unctuous
Derived forms
smarmily (ˈsmarmily)
adverb
smarminess (ˈsmarminess)
noun
Word origin
< smarm, smalm, to bedaub, smear (< ?) + -y2
Examples of 'smarmy' in a sentence
smarmy
He was very intelligent, he came from Wales expecting to make something of himself... but he wasn't smarmy enoughfor the City.
Gee, Maggie LOST CHILDREN (2003)
(adjective)
Definition
unpleasantly flattering or polite
(informal)
He is slightly smarmy and eager to impress.
Synonyms
obsequious
She is positively obsequious to anyone with a title.
slimy (British)
his slimy business partner
ingratiating
His fellow students had found him too ingratiating.
unctuous
the kind of unctuous tone that I've heard at diplomatic parties
smooth
a smooth-talking movie villain
crawling
greasy
She called him `a greasy little sycophant'.
oily
He asked in an oily voice what he could do for them today.
fawning
flanked on all sides by fawning minions
suave
soapy (slang)
fulsome
They have been fulsome in their praise.
sycophantic
his clique of sycophantic friends
servile
He was subservient and servile.
toadying
bowing and scraping
bootlicking (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fawning
flanked on all sides by fawning minions
Synonyms
obsequious,
crawling,
flattering,
cringing,
abject,
grovelling,
prostrate,
deferential,
sycophantic,
servile,
slavish,
bowing and scraping,
bootlicking (informal)
in the sense of fulsome
Definition
exaggerated and elaborate, and often sounding insincere
They have been fulsome in their praise.
Synonyms
extravagant,
excessive,
over the top,
sickening,
overdone,
fawning,
nauseating,
inordinate,
ingratiating,
cloying,
insincere,
saccharine,
sycophantic,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal),
immoderate,
adulatory,
gross
in the sense of greasy
Definition
excessively pleasant or flattering in an insincere manner
She called him `a greasy little sycophant'.
Synonyms
sycophantic,
fawning,
grovelling,
ingratiating,
smooth,
slick,
oily,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal),
toadying
Nearby words of
smarmy
small-minded
small-time
smallpox
smarmy
smart
smart alec
smarten
Synonyms of 'smarmy'
smarmy
Explore 'smarmy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ingratiating
His fellow students had found him too ingratiating.
Synonyms
sycophantic,
servile,
obsequious,
crawling,
humble,
flattering,
fawning,
unctuous,
toadying,
bootlicking (informal),
timeserving
in the sense of oily
Definition
attempting to gain favour by insincere behaviour and flattery
He asked in an oily voice what he could do for them today.
Synonyms
sycophantic,
smooth,
flattering,
slick,
plausible,
hypocritical,
fawning,
grovelling,
glib,
ingratiating,
fulsome,
deferential,
servile,
unctuous,
obsequious,
smarmy (British, informal),
mealy-mouthed,
toadying
in the sense of servile
Definition
too eager to obey people
He was subservient and servile.
Synonyms
subservient,
cringing,
grovelling,
mean,
low,
base,
humble,
craven,
fawning,
abject,
submissive,
menial,
sycophantic,
slavish,
unctuous,
obsequious,
toadying,
bootlicking (informal),
toadyish
in the sense of slimy
Definition
pleasant and friendly in an insincere way
his slimy business partner
Synonyms
obsequious,
creepy,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal),
oily,
grovelling,
soapy (slang),
sycophantic,
servile,
toadying
in the sense of smooth
Definition
charming or persuasive but possibly insincere
a smooth-talking movie villain
Synonyms
suave,
slick,
persuasive,
urbane,
silky,
glib,
facile,
ingratiating,
debonair,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal)
in the sense of sycophantic
his clique of sycophantic friends
Synonyms
obsequious,
grovelling,
ingratiating,
servile,
crawling,
flattering,
cringing,
fawning,
slimy (British),
slavish,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal),
toadying,
parasitical,
arse-licking (taboo, slang),
bootlicking (informal),
timeserving
in the sense of unctuous
Definition
pretending to be kind and concerned but obviously not sincere
the kind of unctuous tone that I've heard at diplomatic parties