I can’t deny it, fall is here. I’ve got beautiful red leaves on my driveway and must wear long pants when I walk the dogs each morning. But I want to give one last nod to summer with my Wondrous Words Wednesday word this week. It came up at a boat dock: smarmy.
If you’re curious about words, join in the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme with Kathy from Bermuda Onion. Share a new word you’ve learned or highlight a favorite. There are plenty of nerds out there who will appreciate your contribution!
Now, back to the lake. My friend Chris said she has to bleach the seats of her pontoon boat because they get “smarmy” under the cover, meaning they get moldy in the damp space without air circulation. For the record, I wasn’t the only one intrigued when she threw out the word “smarmy”. Of course, I looked it up.
Smarmy \’smär-mē\ adjective from English smarm, to gush or slobber
- Marked by a smug, ingratiating false earnestness (a smarmy salesman)
- Of low sleazy taste or quality (a smarmy adult bookstore)
Chris was surprised smarmy is actually a word, and these definitions don’t exactly fit her use, which I took to mean as “yucky”. I can see how “yucky” might come from the second meaning, but there is nothing about Chris or her boat that is sleazy.
Word Nerd Workout
Use smarmy in a sentence.
Priscilla dodged the smarmy man on the street corner who was selling watches from inside his coat pocket.
Don’t forget to visit Kathy at Bermuda Onion.
Have you ever heard smarmy before?
Thanks for getting nerdy with me today!
I knew the first definition of smarmy (and wondered how it could apply to a boat …) but did not know the second one.
Yay! Glad I showed you something new. 😉
Smarmy is a word I use and hear often in the sense of the definition you gave.
I’ve used smarmy but didn’t realize it’s a real word either.
The smarmy guy in front of me in line at the drug store gave me the creeps.
Oh, I adore this word. I use it frequently to describe facial expressions…on certain individuals. Indeed, a great word!