Smarmy

October 21st, 2009 by admin

Page 2 of 2 | Previous page

Posted in columns, October 2009 | 5 comments

Previous post:
Next post:

5 comments on this post.

  1. Awesome word: “Smarmy” | Fist of Blog:

    December 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    […] Read more about it, here.   « Scary Elf |   […]

  2. SophieBird:

    April 25th, 2014 at 7:30 am

    I always see smarmy as a shortened form of smooth and charming, which, when used together, reek of insincerity.

  3. O_Desch:

    March 22nd, 2016 at 5:31 am

    Seems like it could be a conjunction of smear & charm.

  4. Christi C.:

    March 28th, 2018 at 5:35 pm

    The other night I dreamed of the word ‘smarmy,’ including the noun ‘smarm.’ I have to present the Word of the Day at my local Toastmasters club…and hey, this appears to be it! Before getting out the old Random House Unabridged, I thought I’d search the web, and here you are. Nothing in this etymology is what I thought it might be! Thank you.

  5. gmkjr:

    July 21st, 2019 at 7:28 pm

    “Smarmy” has a sense of obsequiousness, flattery and insincerity that marks a person who displays it as either an insincere kiss-up or an idiot. In literature, Rev. Collins in “Pride & Prejudice” may be the foremost example, particularly in his relationship with his wealthy and demanding patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The entomological relationship to pomade (hair grease) makes sense, since a smarmy person lays it on a bit thick. I would guess that any relationship with “charm” is coincidental.

Leave a comment