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 WebMitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2024
Riseborough belies Alice’s jaded smirk with eyes that seem perpetually on the verge of flooding with tears.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024
Mikel Arteta couldn’t help himself smirk when asked about the possibility of Kylian Mbappe signing for Arsenal.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Think of him on Hot 97 with a straight face, occasionally a prankish smirk, pushing a theory that Ray J is a pivotal influence on all of Black culture.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
For years, Dempsey played the dreamiest doctor on one of television's biggest shows, making viewers swoon with nothing more than a look across the operating table or a smirk in the elevator.
—EW.com, 8 Nov. 2023
With his wry smirk and dry wit, Oliver on Sunday may have brought these calls roaring back to life merely by choosing to zero in on Thomas.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
And Nevada, seeing a threat to its first-in-the-West standing, ditched its caucuses for a primary—albeit with a huge loophole that Republicans spotted with smirks.
—TIME, 6 Feb. 2024
In the selfie, Peters, 36, was talking on the phone and gave the camera a deadpan look while Pascal made a squinty-eyed face and wore a slight smirk on his lips.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
Mention the weeklong gap in between games and Brandon Miller smirks.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2024
Asked about his future in Pittsburgh after completing his 17th season — all of them with a record of .500 or better — Tomlin smirked and walked away.
—John Wawrow, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024
The bit showed what the fiercely energetic and charismatic Murray could do, and, almost literally from that moment on, SNL viewers latched onto Murray's signature mix of smirking silliness and performing courage.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023
Fielding another question about Swift’s forthcoming release, The Tortured Poets Department, which the singer announced in her speech after taking the Grammy for best pop vocal album on Sunday, the tight end smirked, but revealed little about what fans can expect.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2024
Blige took to her Instagram Story to post a smirking emoji and a money bag emoji.
—Vulture, 27 Jan. 2024
In a snapshot shared on Instagram in March 2022, the duo sat next to each other and cheekily smirked at the camera.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
When said chaos arrived, Saban would smirk ruefully, like a tired old lion.
—Jason Gay, WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024
Noun
The other image finds Cabello donning an off-the-shoulder white top while flipping off the camera and flashing a subtle smirk.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2024
Riseborough belies Alice’s jaded smirk with eyes that seem perpetually on the verge of flooding with tears.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024
Mikel Arteta couldn’t help himself smirk when asked about the possibility of Kylian Mbappe signing for Arsenal.
—Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024
Think of him on Hot 97 with a straight face, occasionally a prankish smirk, pushing a theory that Ray J is a pivotal influence on all of Black culture.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 16 Feb. 2024
For years, Dempsey played the dreamiest doctor on one of television's biggest shows, making viewers swoon with nothing more than a look across the operating table or a smirk in the elevator.
—EW.com, 8 Nov. 2023
With his wry smirk and dry wit, Oliver on Sunday may have brought these calls roaring back to life merely by choosing to zero in on Thomas.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2024
And Nevada, seeing a threat to its first-in-the-West standing, ditched its caucuses for a primary—albeit with a huge loophole that Republicans spotted with smirks.
—TIME, 6 Feb. 2024
In the selfie, Peters, 36, was talking on the phone and gave the camera a deadpan look while Pascal made a squinty-eyed face and wore a slight smirk on his lips.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
Verb
According to the footage that surfaced on social media, the crowd erupted into cheers while the Grammy winner smirked at their reaction.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
Mention the weeklong gap in between games and Brandon Miller smirks.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2024
Asked about his future in Pittsburgh after completing his 17th season — all of them with a record of .500 or better — Tomlin smirked and walked away.
—John Wawrow, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024
The bit showed what the fiercely energetic and charismatic Murray could do, and, almost literally from that moment on, SNL viewers latched onto Murray's signature mix of smirking silliness and performing courage.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023
Fielding another question about Swift’s forthcoming release, The Tortured Poets Department, which the singer announced in her speech after taking the Grammy for best pop vocal album on Sunday, the tight end smirked, but revealed little about what fans can expect.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2024
Blige took to her Instagram Story to post a smirking emoji and a money bag emoji.
—Vulture, 27 Jan. 2024
In a snapshot shared on Instagram in March 2022, the duo sat next to each other and cheekily smirked at the camera.
—Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
When said chaos arrived, Saban would smirk ruefully, like a tired old lion.
—Jason Gay, WSJ, 11 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'smirk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near smirk
Cite this Entry
“Smirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smirk. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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