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.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of smirk
Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 17 July 2025
Liam McNeeley’s eyes widened, preceding a devilish smirk.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2025
Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2025
The pictures accompanying the article, which detailed Dončić’s fitness regimen, were a sharp break from the usual images of Dončić smirking, complaining to the refs, or cuddling a poofy animal.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Verb
On Saturday, July 12, visitors to the park were greeted by a 12-foot tall sculpture of the tech kingpin’s head, his expression chiseled into a self-satisfied smirk.
—Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 17 July 2025
Liam McNeeley’s eyes widened, preceding a devilish smirk.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2025
Noun
Meanwhile, backup quarterback Cole Ballard couldn’t help but smirk when asked about Henderson.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2025
The pictures accompanying the article, which detailed Dončić’s fitness regimen, were a sharp break from the usual images of Dončić smirking, complaining to the refs, or cuddling a poofy animal.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smirk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirk
Verb
-
Miller could be seen bending over and grimacing after the fateful pitch, in an obvious degree of pain.—
Jon Vankin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Shelton first grimaced in pain after hitting a forehand at the end of the third set.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The single, meanwhile, is ushered in with a gripping bass line and an undercurrent of keyboards until Osbourne makes his grand vocal entrance, all sneers and snarls.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Taking refuge in Utah, a world away I’m sitting here, staring at these majestic mountains that in the summer can appear brown, blue, green, gold or gray depending on the time of day or how the sun hits them.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
One where the entire community would gather to stare blankly at price tags, sit on bulky massage chairs, and sample glossy pieces of teriyaki chicken in a grand dining hall.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The carnage leads to a sigh of an epilogue that seems, without giving anything away, like a curious letdown, a cruel little snicker from Aster that doesn’t entirely satisfy.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 July 2025
-
League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Cena has been delivering his signature sharp mic work, routinely dominating verbal exchanges while Paul has been forced to scowl while the master gets in all of his barbs and sons him at every opportunity.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
His Teddy is a skeevy, scowling hippie incel who seems to have burnt everything out of himself but the desire for vengeance.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
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
-
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
-
In Israel it is frowned upon to criticize the nation, especially in front of outsiders.—
Uriel Kon
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
While some conservative clerics still frown upon women taking part in beauty pageants, many others in the Muslim community have been supportive of Hashwi.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirk. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share