smarm

English

Etymology

Back-formation from smarmy.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)m

Noun

smarm (plural smarms)

1. smarmy language or behavior

Verb

smarm (third-person singular simple present smarms, present participle smarming, simple past and past participle smarmed)

1. (intransitive) To fawn, to be unctuous.
   • 1957, Lawrence Durrell, Justine

     He rose ... on his wife's fortune and judicious smarming of powerful people.

2. (transitive) To address in a fawning and unctuous manner.

Anagrams

• marms