smirk

Study(2)

UK /smɜːk/ US /smɝk/

noun 2verb 1adj 1

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

arrogant, knowing, patronizing, self-satisfied

VERB + SMIRK

have

He had an annoying smirk whenever he won at chess against his friends.

give

He gave a smirk when his friend tripped over the chair.

conceal, hide

She couldn't hide her smirk when she found out her brother had failed the test.

SMIRK + VERB

flicker

A slight smirk flickered across her face when she realized he'd forgotten their anniversary.

PREP

with a ~

She answered his question with a smirk, clearly enjoying his confusion.

~ of

She noticed a smirk of satisfaction on his face when he won the game.

Definitions

noun

An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied, conceited or scornful.

A forced or affected smile.

The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.

We sat at a long table with a huge salmon on a platter in the center, prepared Szechuan style. Dad sat at one end of the table, and regaled all present with his stories. In the middle of one convoluted yarn, he rose and went around to the salmon in the center of the table. Using his fingers, he dug an eyeball out of the fish, popped it in his mouth and swallowed it whole as we looked on, aghast. “A real delicacy,” he said, with a boyish smirk.

verb

To smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous.

adj

smart; spruce; affected; simpering

So smirk, so smooth, his pricked Ears.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

verb — smile affectedly or derisively

simper

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.

Wiktionary

So smirk, so smooth, his pricked Ears.

Wiktionary

The boy had a mischievous smirk on his face.

Tatoeba · #3380370

Wipe that smirk off your face.

Tatoeba · #3380372

Hester gave them a satisfied smirk.

Tatoeba · #6112572

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, smirk is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars