fug

1 of 2

noun

ˈfəg How to pronounce fug (audio)
: the stuffy atmosphere of a poorly ventilated space
also : a stuffy or malodorous emanation
fuggy
ˈfə-gē How to pronounce fug (audio)
adjective

fug

2 of 2

verb

fugged; fugging

intransitive verb

: to loll indoors in a stuffy atmosphere

transitive verb

: to make stuffy and odorous

Examples of fug in a Sentence

Noun They sat in the dense fug of a smoky bar.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The fug of beer, the sight of so many shiny bottles, the circulating trays of Champagne can sometimes be too much, especially for those new to, or feeling shaky in, their sobriety. — Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration of fog entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1889, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of fug was in 1888

Browse Nearby Words

fuffle
fug
fuga
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fug. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All