as in to grimace
to smile in an unpleasant way because you are pleased with yourself, glad about someone else's trouble, etc.
She tried not to smirk when they announced the winner.
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Recent Examples of smirk
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
Everyone has always wondered what that smirk was all about from day one.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Fans couldn't get enough of Ray's performance in Smile 2 (2024), where his smirking close-ups were near-identical to Jack's iconic grins in The Shining (1980).
—Lydia Price, People.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Verb
In group settings, Edelman was good for a clip on the local news, making a wry joke about his own passing abilities, the opposing team or Brady with a smirk on his face.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
Everyone has always wondered what that smirk was all about from day one.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Then, later in the day, Kesha seemed to support the recommendation by posting a photo of herself smirking while sipping from a Wendy’s cup.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Fans couldn't get enough of Ray's performance in Smile 2 (2024), where his smirking close-ups were near-identical to Jack's iconic grins in The Shining (1980).
—Lydia Price, People.com, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirk
Noun
-
Up front, its face is a far more rectilinear sneer.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
8 July 2025
-
Yungblud’s voice — a piercing yelp that exists somewhere between Gerard Way’s wail and Brian Molko’s sneer — slotted him in the alt-rock world, but his aspirations seemed to stretch far beyond that categorization.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
The proud dad shared an adorable new photo with their little one on Instagram Wednesday, July 3 On Wednesday, July 2, Irwin's husband, Chandler Powell, 28, shared an adorable Instagram photo of Grace Warrior Irwin Powell staring in amazement at a rainbow.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
4 July 2025
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On the left, 23-month-old Riot Rose sucks on a pacifier and stares apathetically at his mom before hiding behind the shade canopy of his carseat, seemingly having pulled it over himself to avoid his mom’s camera lens.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The exhibit became the main discussion topic amongst his peers and Claude, scowling and sour about missing it, chewed his lower lip waiting patiently for the subject to change.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
18 June 2025
-
In the meantime, Claude scrutinized the room, alternately winking and scowling at the residents and care workers within eyeshot before diligently watching the door.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Each time an audience member so much as sniggers or sneezes, money is docked from a prize pot of £250,000 ($330,000), the slightest noise costing them up to £10,000 ($13,000) each time.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
2 May 2025
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The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.—
Bing West,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2011
Verb
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And, in most instances, these days the desperate clamor to sole star-shining is often frowned upon and decidedly outdated.—
Paige Francis,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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But a lot of people frown on this behavior, viewing it as cutting in line.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirk. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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