plural smirks
: a smile that shows a smug, condescending, or self-satisfied attitude
A former prosecutor, she deploys an interrogation style that is impatient and knowing, almost amused. The eyebrows go up, a faint smirk plays around the lips: you might as well fess up.—
Dana Goodyear
Dana GoodyearAs Frank Cross, the arrogant and abusive television network programming exec in this uproarious update of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, [Bill] Murray offers viewers everything they like about him—sarcastic smirks, disgusted eye-rolls.—Doug Brod
Doug BrodAnd while circulation is certainly declining, nearly 50 million people in the U.S. still buy a daily newspaper. So wipe that smirk off your face, Web triumphalists.—Jennifer Saba
Jennifer Saba
smirked; smirking; smirks
1
intransitive
: to smile in a smug, condescending, or self-satisfied way
"I seem to have touched a nerve," said Malfoy, smirking.—J. K. Rowling
J. K. RowlingCluny lay back and smirked. Everything was going according to plan.—Brian Jacques
Brian JacquesSome Americans from "old" families likewise smirked behind their napkins at the arriviste's fancy new silver-plate fish set …—Douglas Brenner
Douglas Brenner… they're smirking about the very idea of political seriousness.—Kurt Andersen
Kurt Andersen"Yeah, sure, Ma," I'd say, smirking and rolling my eyes at my husband.—Anna Marie Dell'oso
Anna Marie Dell'oso2
transitive
: to say or express (something) with a smirk
"No problem," he smirked when I apologized for my wimpiness.—Michael Behar
Michael BeharExamples of smirk in a Sentence
Verb
She tried not to smirk when they announced the winner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 1 Aug. 2024
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
Throughout her performance, the camera panned over NBA fans and even some of the players smirking while trying to keep a straight face.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smirk 
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Noun
Ben Daniels’s charming smirk has not convinced me, though.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
The smirk of a male who’s knows he’s protected by a misogynist sporting establishment enjoying the distress of a woman he’s just punched in the head, and whose life’s ambition he’s just shattered.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 1 Aug. 2024
Verb
And there’s no doubt that the graceless, smirking way she was treated in the media supports that.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024
Throughout her performance, the camera panned over NBA fans and even some of the players smirking while trying to keep a straight face.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for smirk
Dictionary Entries Near smirk
Cite this Entry
“Smirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smirk. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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