Thesaurus results for SMIRKED

smirked

verb

past tense of smirk

as in grimaced

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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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 smirked Rick Rice, the VFW quartermaster, smirked and climbed a narrow hall of stairs into a large storage attic. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 While each Republican sheep committed a virtual public hanging of the accomplished Fauci, Laura Ingraham smirked each and every time a Republican lambasted him! — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 On our recent trip to Arizona, my 12-year-old son lingered in the Grand Canyon gift shop near the stickers, smirked at me, and picked out two of his favorites. — Jaclyn Greenberg, Parents, 18 June 2026 Unbothered, Louis smirked at his sister and continued to boogie to the beat. — Alicia Brunker, InStyle, 11 June 2026 Stankiewicz, 61, smirked at the fitting metaphor after the Trojans clinched their first NCAA super regional berth in 21 years. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026 When told that Hyland modeled his game after the famed streetballer Hot Sauce from the And-1 Mixtape Tour, Finch smirked. — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026 With this, Friedmann smirked at Hall and gave a quick wave of the hand. — James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026 Desler smirked and gave him a small nod, which Goth returned. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirked

Verb

Then, as Cerúndolo prepared to serve, Sinner grimaced, took a few gingerly steps, and stretched his apparently cramping legs.

— Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Clark immediately started limping and grimaced as she was subbed out.

— James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of grimaced

Verb

Yes, that same Mason from the premiere who Ge-Z stared Daisy into giving up a leather trench coat.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
One man, summing up the shock, anger and frustration for everyone, stared straight ahead and at one in particular, gathering up whatever air was left in his lungs and yelled one more f-bomb for good measure.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of stared

Verb

Lubelo has also persuaded several friends to join the school, becoming something of an ambassador in a community where magic is often frowned upon and associated with witchcraft.

— Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Such behavior is typically frowned upon by most major news organizations, which want their reporters to be viewed as neutral chroniclers of the subjects and institutions to which they are assigned.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of frowned

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“Smirked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirked. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of smirked

verb

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