as in grimaces
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 smirks
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
Whereas most guests on With Love, Meghan would respond to a prompt like this with doe-eyed enthusiasm, Daniel simply smirks and shakes his head.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirks
Verb
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Lit only by a halo-like light overhead, Wayans stares blankly at the screen, smoking a cigar — and breaking down in mournful tears.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
6 Oct. 2025
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But establishing your lead funnyman as someone who just shuts up and stares blankly ahead isn’t a recipe for sustainable comedy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Not explained is whether Makary would be happier if drug companies placed ads with immobile patients, frowns, and funereal music.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Ken’yaku, a commitment to frugality, is detectable in a corporate culture that frowns on perks or frills.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smirks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirks. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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