smirk

[smurk]

verb (used without object)

1. to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way.

noun

1. the facial expression of a person who smirks.

smirk

/ smɜːk /

noun

1. a smile expressing scorn, smugness, etc, rather than pleasure

verb

1. (intr) to give such a smile

2. (tr) to express with such a smile

Other Word Forms

• smirker noun
• smirkingly adverb
• unsmirking adjective
• unsmirkingly adverb
• smirking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of smirk¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English smirken (verb), Old English sme(a)rcian

Word History and Origins

Origin of smirk¹

Old English smearcian; related to smer derision, Old High German bismer contempt, bismerōn to scorn

Example Sentences

The men, who were described in court as "smirking" killers, ran amok at the music video shoot and fatally stabbed Klevi and Leo and severely injured Abdullah Abdullahi, 28, for an "adrenaline rush".

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Sheep are simultaneously fluffy and unsettling owing to their perpetual smirk.

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The smirk on her lips told me that our conversation would be memorable.

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"It's his laugh, right? He has such a hearty laugh. And sometimes you'll see that twinkle in his eye, or that smirk, and I just get transported."

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She’s been on the pedestal, built up just so people could smirk when they tore her down.

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Related Words

• grin 
• sneer 

When To Use

What does smirk mean?

A smirk is a kind of smile, but it’s not a friendly smile—it’s often a sarcastic or arrogant one or one that’s intended to provoke or irritate the person who sees it.Smirk is also a verb that means to smile in such a way. People often smirk to show contempt for someone or something—such as by smirking at a person who’s angry at them.Sometimes, though, the word simply refers to a kind of slight smile or a smile that looks like a smirk usually does—a baby might smirk, for example, obviously without meaning anything by it.Example: Wipe that smirk off your face and take this seriously!