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
James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Camille smirks into her wine, feigning terror but secretly gleeful at the display.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The review delayed the game, and McCarron returned with a smirk on his face and skated to the penalty box with no injury.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Verb
With this, Friedmann smirked at Hall and gave a quick wave of the hand.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Camille smirks into her wine, feigning terror but secretly gleeful at the display.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
Gosling said in his trademark slight-smirk delivery.
—Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The review delayed the game, and McCarron returned with a smirk on his face and skated to the penalty box with no injury.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirk
Verb
-
Towns was downgraded to questionable Friday morning, shot around ahead of tipoff against Chicago, then grimaced and grabbed at his arm before leaving the floor and being ruled out for the night with a right elbow impingement.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The fifth-year senior also was seen grimacing in pain during the game.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From the sneer of Billy Idol to the smooth sashaying of Sade, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees amplify the institution’s commitment to recognizing a diverse slate.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Valarr asks Ser Duncan with a sneer.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The whole allure of staring death in the face on film wasn’t born in the ’70s, of course.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Some with furtive glances, some outright staring.—
Ben Mezrich,
Vanity Fair,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The dialogue is overladen with snicker-worthy cliches, a swelling, melodramatic soundtrack that doesn’t match the mood, dubious cameos and plastic, perfunctory life-affirming quotes.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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The event also had free opportunities to take photos, get ice cream snickers and have earned a Super Bowl post card.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those that attended mostly sat and scowled.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
-
He was picked up first on meth charges on May 14, 1986, according to news reports and a San Francisco police booking photo, which shows him in a blue hoodie scowling into the camera.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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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This offbeat comedy, which originally ran from 2007-10, thrives on less explicit social tensions: sniggers behind the back and raised eyebrows at the dinner table.—
The Economist,
The Economist,
26 Dec. 2019
Verb
-
The series followed her through the aftermath of a divorce and an on-again, off-again relationship with Dakota Mortensen, all of which is frowned upon by the Mormon church.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Besides impacting ecosystems and potentially damaging coral reefs, that kind of pesticide use is increasingly frowned upon more generally, says Bart Knols, a disease vector biologist who has worked with Soneva Fushi.—
Degen Pener,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirk. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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