Definition
Unpleasantly flattering or charming in an insincere way; showing exaggerated friendliness that seems fake or manipulative.
Etymology
Possibly from 'smarm' (which may derive from dialectal English meaning 'grease' or 'slime'), suggesting something slick and oily. The adjective and noun developed in British English in the 1800s with the sense of insincerely obsequious behavior.
Kelly Says
Politicians and used car salesmen are the classic 'smarmy' characters in stories—the word is basically English's way of describing the creepy feeling you get when someone is being too nice, too smooth, and you know they want something from you.
Translations
BNবাংলা
মনোমুগ্ধকর
mo-no-mu-gdh-kor
CACatalà
esmeralda
es-me-ra-la
CSČeština
šalamounský
ša-la-mouns-ký
DADansk
smigrende
s-mi-gren-de
DEDeutsch
verspielt
fer-s-pilt
ELΕλληνικά
υποκριτικός
yf-o-kri-ti-kos
FISuomi
kiusaava
kiu-sa-a-va
FRFrançais
affable
a-fa-ble
HUMagyar
csalogató
cha-lo-ga-to
IDBahasa Indonesia
licik
li-cik
MSBahasa Melayu
licik
li-cik
MYမြန်မာ
တိမ်ကြိုး
teem-kye-o
NLNederlands
knijpend
knij-pend
NONorsk
smigrende
s-mi-gren-de
PTPortuguês
servil
ser-vil
RORomână
plictisitor
pli-ktis-i-tor
RUРусский
лицемерный
li-ce-mer-nyy
SVSvenska
smickrig
s-mick-rig
SWKiswahili
mjanja
mjan-ja
TAதமிழ்
சொல்லக்கூடாது
sol-la-ka-do-thu
TLTL
mapag-init
ma-pa-g-in-it
UKУкраїнська
лицемірний
li-ce-mir-nyy
VITiếng Việt
ngây thơ
ngay-tho
ZH中文
油嘴滑舌
yóu-zuǐ huá-shé