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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smirk
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2025
Deep inside the tunnel, awaiting a sprint onto court, Mark Williams smirks while making an inside joke to a staffer before ribbing an assistant coach for stepping over a barrier without tripping.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Here are six real books coming out this week, with dust jackets that reflect their real contents: mysteries and mishaps, often told with a sly smirk.
—Colin Dwyer, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Verb
In the picture, a slightly wary — but still smirking — Ronson lies back in a hospital gown while giving the camera a thumbs-up.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2025
Deep inside the tunnel, awaiting a sprint onto court, Mark Williams smirks while making an inside joke to a staffer before ribbing an assistant coach for stepping over a barrier without tripping.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
Cena, the 16-time world champion, hugged Rhodes, only to eerily smirk at The Rock while displaying a throat slash gesture.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Here are six real books coming out this week, with dust jackets that reflect their real contents: mysteries and mishaps, often told with a sly smirk.
—Colin Dwyer, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirk
Noun
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But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.—
Josh Bell,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The image, which is one of a set of lowrider photographs acquired by the Smithsonian, is dominated by the driver of the car, who rests her elbow on the edge of the open window and stares straight at us with a confidence that is at once challenging and completely relaxed.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
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The Browns are staring at a training camp competition between 40-year-old Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, who flamed out as the Steelers’ starter in just two seasons.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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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Today, there’s no reason for the Padres to be scowling.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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The image, which shows Trump scowling to the camera for his booking shot at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, has become a symbol.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.—
Bing West,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2011
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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
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If your health care provider and/or hospital frown upon it, find one that does not.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, loud prints and bright colors are frowned upon — something tournament organizers addressed with Jason Day in 2024.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirk. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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