as in grimaces
to smile in an unpleasant way because you are pleased with yourself, glad about someone else's trouble, etc.
She tried not to smirk when they announced the winner.
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Recent Examples of smirks
Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Cruz then smirks as the officers detaining her place her on the hood of a vehicle.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Glinda, with a white cardigan draped over her head, leans in to whisper something to Elphaba, who smirks.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Through it all, Stanley smirks, Criss chuckles, and Simmons maintains his dour demeanor.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Whereas most guests on With Love, Meghan would respond to a prompt like this with doe-eyed enthusiasm, Daniel simply smirks and shakes his head.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Camille smirks into her wine, feigning terror but secretly gleeful at the display.
—Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
Cruz then smirks as the officers detaining her place her on the hood of a vehicle.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Glinda, with a white cardigan draped over her head, leans in to whisper something to Elphaba, who smirks.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
Through it all, Stanley smirks, Criss chuckles, and Simmons maintains his dour demeanor.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
Whereas most guests on With Love, Meghan would respond to a prompt like this with doe-eyed enthusiasm, Daniel simply smirks and shakes his head.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smirks
Verb
-
Chee grimaces in pain from his ghost sickness wounds, and Manuelito notices.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are countless points during Body of Work, the new hour-long behemoth from Edward Skeletrix, where the multi-hyphenate artist stares dead into the proverbial camera.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
-
But less than three minutes into the conversation, Earl leaps off Maslany’s lap, freezes in place and stares ahead.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
However, there has been a growing edge to Denver’s current group, personified on the field in the way safety Talanoa Hufanga flies to the ball and in the way Cooper scowls under his eye black.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
How often do smiles express happiness and scowls express anger?—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Mar. 2020
Noun
-
The event also had free opportunities to take photos, get ice cream snickers and have earned a Super Bowl post card.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated February 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
While there were a few snickers, the photographers obliged and got their photos.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Haven frowns upon the data fueling prohibition.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
-
Seward tries on one of his safari jackets, based on a 1948 British army uniform, but Stéphane frowns at the fit.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smirks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smirks. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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