simper

[sim-per]

See more synonyms for simper on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to smile in a silly, self-conscious way.

verb (used with object)

to say with a simper.

noun

a silly, self-conscious smile.

Origin of simper

1555–65; akin to Middle Dutch zimperlijc, dialectal Danish simper affected, Danish sippe affected woman, orig. one who sips (see sip), a way of drinking thought to be affected

Related formssim·per·er, nounsim·per·ing·ly, adverbun·sim·per·ing, adjective

Synonyms for simper

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1, 3. smirk, snigger, snicker.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for simpering

sneer, smirk, leer, grin, beam

Examples from the Web for simpering

Contemporary Examples of simpering

No “simpering chit” of a girl, Rebecca is fierce and steely, a woman whose own father cannot quite figure her out.
Must Read Fiction: ‘Prague Fatale,’ ‘Derby Day’ and More
Malcolm Forbes, Hillary Kelly, Mythili Rao
May 9, 2012

Historical Examples of simpering

Some other simpering thing, na doot-they're all alike these days.
The Christian
Hall Caine
You're simpering at some hidden invention of your own, and you know it.
Miss Pat at School
Pemberton Ginther
When I got fed up on a bunch of simpering women and their, 'ain't he cute?'
David Lannarck, Midget
George S. Harney
"Hay has got all the money," said the simpering admirer who answered to the name of Tempest.
The Opal Serpent
Fergus Hume
You might as well be a simpering wax dummy out of a shop window.
Jewel
Clara Louise Burnham

British Dictionary definitions for simpering

simper

verb

(intr) to smile coyly, affectedly, or in a silly self-conscious way
(tr) to utter (something) in a simpering manner

noun

a simpering smile; smirk

Derived Formssimperer, nounsimpering, adjective, nounsimperingly, adverb

Word Origin for simper

C16: probably from Dutch simper affected

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for simpering

adj.

1580s, present participle adjective from simper (v.). Related: Simperingly.

simper

1560s, "to smile in an affected and silly way," perhaps from a Scandinavian source (e.g. dialectal Danish semper "affected, coy, prudish") or Middle Dutch zimperlijk "affected, coy, prim," of unknown origin. Related: Simpered; simpering. As a noun, 1590s, from the verb.