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

Derived Forms

• ˈsmirker, noun
• ˈsmirking, adjective
• ˈsmirkingly, adverb

Other Words From

• smirker noun
• smirking·ly adverb
• un·smirking adjective
• un·smirking·ly adverb

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 virtual ink isn’t even dry on Facebook’s new Meta logo, and the smirks and not-so-subtle metaverse digs are already pouring in.

From Quartz

The bar feels characteristically low on “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” with the 25-year-old quasi-rapping toward dirtbag catharsis, cultivating his dark art with a smirk.

From Washington Post

So when the Norwegian committee decided to award the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize to the World Food Program, the United Nations’ food assistance agency, it was no surprise that the news was greeted with more than a few smirks and eye-rolls.

From MIT Technology Review

So when we hear the knee-jerk smirk of our age, when anyone says “Asterisk Dodgers,” just respond, “For shame.”

From Washington Post

The tiniest smirk crawled across Patrick Ewing’s face as the question was asked, a small curl starting from the right corner of his mouth.

From Washington Post

We continuously pause to pull them out while Zalwar Khan and his companion smirk at us and chew unbothered.

From The Daily Beast

Wahlberg chimes in with the hint of a smirk: “The hard days of digging ditches!”

From The Daily Beast

When he turned himself in, he wore a smirk in his mug shot, and then he went out for ice cream with reporters in tow.

From The Daily Beast

But drinking for every triple Lutz, American flag or smirk from Putin could cause a calorie avalanche and sick Sochi gut.

From The Daily Beast

It's better to try to pack every moment with beauty and feeling than to shrug and smirk.

From The Daily Beast

And feeding high, and living soft,Grew plump and able-bodied; Until the grave churchwarden doff'd,The parson smirk'd and nodded.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a serene self-satisfied smirk on the marble face, which looks more like that of a woman than a man.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a smirk of pharisaical satisfaction on their faces.

From Project Gutenberg

Tiflin flashed a smirk that showed that his front teeth were missing.

From Project Gutenberg

It cost a smirk or smile; Jehu had hundreds at command, and the accident was amended.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• grin
• sneer

More About Smirk

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!

Where does smirk come from?

The first records of smirk come from before 900. It comes from the Old English smearcian, which is related to the Old English smer, meaning “derision.” It’s also related to the Old High German words bismer, “contempt,” and bismerōn, “to scorn.”

A smirk doesn’t usually look like a real smile, because it isn’t. People smile due to happiness or amusement, but a smirk is often a weaponized smile. People usually smirk because they’re trying to annoy someone, especially a person who’s already upset. People sometimes smirk at the person who is scolding them to show that they’re really not taking it seriously. Such a smirk is often intended to indicate that the person who’s doing the scolding can’t really do anything about it, and that amuses the smirking person. The expression “wipe that smirk off your face” is often used in response to situations like this.

A smirk can also indicate that someone is smug or self-satisfied. Some people smirk all the time because they see everything and everyone else as a joke—which is another way of saying that they’re contemptuous.

But not only jerks smirk. Less commonly, a smirk might be a slight smile, like the kind you get when you think of something funny in a setting where you shouldn’t be laughing or smiling to yourself.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of smirk?

• smirkingly (adverb)
• smirking (adjective)
• smirker (noun)

What are some synonyms for smirk?

• sneer

What are some words that often get used in discussing smirk?

 

• smile
• grin
• sarcasm
• smug
• arrogant
• snarky

How is smirk used in real life?

Smirk is almost always used negatively, unless it’s simply referring to a smile that looks like a smirk.

During these difficult times, strive to keep a stiff upper lip. For even more flair add a knowing smirk.

— Myrna Tellingheusen (@PearlsFromMyrna) April 4, 2020

As my mother used to say, “You’d better wipe that smirk off your face young lady.” In my moms defense I was a rotten teenager 😔

— Cutie Pie ☘️🌷🌊🍎🏈 (@manneb2015) April 14, 2020

being on twitter is just nose huffing and smirking at your phone

— willllll (@_ogwill_) April 19, 2020

 

 

Try using smirk!

Which of the following words would NOT usually be used to describe a smirk?

A. genuine
B. sarcastic
C. smug
D. contemptuous