snug

1 of 3

verb

snugged; snugging

intransitive verb

: snuggle, nestle
snug down for bed

transitive verb

1
: to cause to fit closely
2
: to make snug
3
4
: to secure by fastening or lashing down

snug

2 of 3

adjective

snugger; snuggest
1
a
of a ship : manifesting seaworthiness : taut
b
: trim, neat
c
: fitting closely and comfortably
a snug coat
2
a
: enjoying or affording warm secure shelter or cover and opportunity for ease and contentment
a snug cottage
a snug haven
b
: marked by cordiality and secure privacy
3
: affording a degree of comfort and ease
a snug income
4
: offering safe concealment
a snug hideout
snug adverb
snugly adverb
snugness noun

snug

3 of 3

noun

British
: a small private room or compartment in a pub
Choose the Right Synonym for snug

comfortable, cozy, snug, easy, restful mean enjoying or providing a position of contentment and security.

comfortable applies to anything that encourages serenity, well-being, or complacency as well as physical ease.

started feeling comfortable in our new surroundings

cozy suggests warmth, shelter, assured ease, and friendliness.

a cozy neighborhood coffee shop

snug suggests having just enough space for comfort and safety but no more.

a snug little cottage

easy implies relief from or absence of anything likely to cause discomfort or constraint.

living in easy circumstances

restful applies to whatever induces or contributes to rest or relaxation.

a quiet restful vacation

Examples of snug in a Sentence

Verb the farmhand snugged down in the hay and proceeded to go to sleep Adjective The shoes were too snug. These jeans are snug around the hips. We were snug in the cabin. She felt snug under the warm blanket. The children were snug in their beds.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Most of them grow from southern Oregon down into northern California, snugged up against the rugged Pacific coast. Discover Magazine, 6 Jan. 2024 On Google Maps, Zdarsky’s hangar-cum-house can be seen snugged into the crossings of several dirt runways on an isolated section of land located in Utah’s remote northwestern desert. Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023 How about snugging up with a thematically appropriate movie? Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 16 May 2023 Then snug the empty vest on your torso. Peter Koch, Outside Online, 10 May 2020 Pocketing a major, the first in nearly seven years, would push McIlroy’s total to five and snug him up with legends Byron Nelson, Seve Ballesteros and three others. Bryce Miller Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2021 This ensures that the chip breaker will snug up tightly against the iron, so no wood shavings can be trapped and torn off. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 28 Sep. 2020 The wide straps distribute the weight of the firearm across the back and chest, and the easy-to-adjust straps snug the gun firmly against the body, eliminating excess movement. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2020 Cobra – Lying on your stomach, place your hands next to your mid-rib cage with your elbows bent and snug to your sides. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 3 Mar. 2020
Adjective
It’s constructed from a soft and smooth rayon blend that has enough stretch to provide a snug fit while also adding a little bit of support. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Everyone lingered, because the food encouraged careful considerations of last great bites, and because the atmosphere had a snug Parisian quality that’s rare in Los Angeles. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Flagstone floors flow into snug maroon-walled lounges with marble ceramics, rattan stools, and open log fires guarded by leather benches and mustard sofa chairs. Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 With more than 100 years of history, this snug bar opens up to a grand outdoor patio where live music and salsa dancing are the norm. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2024 Part of snug fit is the fact that Chris Young, a former player under Bochy in San Diego, is the Rangers general manager who dangled the carrot of a dugout return. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 The model's snug silver mermaid gown, designed by Avellano, featured ample fabric sprouting at the bottom and spilling onto the red carpet. Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2024 The faux fur lining not only keeps you warm and snug but also seamlessly blends in with the leather exterior. Jessica Copeland, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2024 It’s equipped with four straps comprising two ladder lock and two side-release buckles to secure a snug and even compression. Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
The relaxed arch band loosely snugs against your foot for maximum comfort with light compression. Mike Richard, Men's Health, 3 Mar. 2023 Inside and out, everything hinges and snugs: The writing desk collapses, the shelving folds flat, and the bed frame stows away into its own headboard. Josh Condon, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2023 Additionally, leggings fit snug around the ankle as well as flare out like a pair of statement-making jeans. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 9 Feb. 2023 The band at the top also is amazing…snug but not tight. Nicole Crawford, Verywell Health, 7 Feb. 2023 The semi-sheer classic tank is snug for undergarments or by itself. Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023 This allows a snug fit to the hand truck’s curving back brace. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 6 Feb. 2023 There was something incredible about his look, specifically the high-rise, snug stovepipe pants. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2023 What to Consider: The fit is snug, so consider ordering a size up. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'snug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish snygg tidy

Noun

short for snuggery

First Known Use

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of snug was in 1583

Dictionary Entries Near snug

Cite this Entry

“Snug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snug. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

snug

1 of 2 verb
snugged; snugging
1
: to settle or lie down : snuggle
2
: to make snug

snug

2 of 2 adjective
snugger; snuggest
1
a
c
: fitting closely and comfortably
a snug coat
2
: enjoying or providing warm secure shelter and comfort : cozy
a snug cottage
3
: fairly large
a snug fortune
4
: offering safe concealment
a snug harbor
snug adverb
snugly adverb
snugness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on snug

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!