Thesaurus results for SMIRKING

smirking

verb

Definition of smirking

present participle of smirk

as in grimacing

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

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 smirking As the actor who originated the role, Johnson fares a bit better as Maui, smirking and preening and repeatedly tossing Moana off her own boat in attempts to commandeer it for himself. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 8 July 2026 The noble consort takes the empress’s place, smirking, and stealthily pushes her down the stairs when no one is watching. — Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026 The two singers stared at each other silently while smirking, refusing to confirm or deny the rumor. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 27 June 2026 Meanwhile, several Yankees, including Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Clarke Schmidt, could be seen smirking and smiling in the dugout as a trainer tended to Chisholm. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026 He was seen smirking in the courtroom, at times laughing, as prosecutors laid out their case for him to be detained. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026 Something of a Hurley whisperer, who is there to translate what the coach wants – minus the additional adjectives – for his teammates, usually sitting and smirking while Hurley riffs on the grievance of the day. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026 Standing above it all is Elijah Wood as the Council lawyer, who seems to be silently smirking at everything that happens, which is not an inappropriate response. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 Some American viewers were pulled into it by a boring—and slightly embarrassing—poster of Harrison Ford, smirking in a suit, while a loyal Melanie Griffith clings to his shoulder and Sigourney Weaver, as befits her role of nemesis, gives a wicked smile. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirking

Verb

Garner started the video with a clip of her drinking leftovers from the drink container and seemingly getting a brain freeze, holding her hand to her forehead and grimacing.

— Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
On Monday’s episode of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, a grimacing Stewart was flabbergasted at why, exactly, the president elbowed his way into a spotlight clearly not intended for him.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 July 2026

Definition of grimacing

Verb

Very few things in movies and television shows delight me as much as a mysterious character revealing his or her fascinating backstory through an extended monologue that is delivered while staring off into the unspecified middle distance.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Remember, staring directly at the sun during the partial phases of an eclipse can cause permanent vision loss.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of staring

Verb

The note was written on Cohn’s personal stationery, imprinted with a scowling caricature of himself.

— Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
As a 7-year-old, I’d entertain my father’s friends, at their weekly pickup game at a Bronx barn-house gymnasium, by imitating his game face—bottom lip jutting, eyes scowling.

— Sean Gregory, Time, 14 June 2026

Definition of scowling

Verb

This focuses readers on the all-black uniforms of the veiled pupils, who—in a long frame at the center of the page—sit between the looming, frowning teacher on the right and Marji on the left, who stands up to explain that her uncle was executed by the Islamic regime.

— Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Woods, 50, is seen frowning in the photo, taken shortly after the legendary golfer was booked into jail on March 27 after his Land Rover rolled over in Jupiter Island, Florida.

— Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of frowning

Verb

Some people will probably be pouting in those debriefs.

— Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
My introduction to Peters came late last year, when Instagram’s algorithm served me a video of him wearing a baseball cap, primping and pouting for the camera.

— Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026

Definition of pouting

Browse Nearby Words

smirked

smirking

smirks

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“Smirking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirking. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of smirking

verb

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