smirk

verb
UK: /smɜːk/
US: /smɝːk/

  1. To smile in an unpleasant way that shows you are pleased with your own cleverness or think you know something that other people do not.

    1. He tried to suppress a smirk, but failed, looking very smug as a result.
    2. She gave a slight smirk when I asked her how the interview went, suggesting she knew more.

Synonyms

sneer simper leer
smirk noun

  1. An unpleasant smile that shows you are pleased with yourself, happy about someone else's bad luck, or think you know something that other people do not.

    1. He had a smirk on his face after winning.
    2. There was a smirk in his voice as he talked about their defeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "smirk" is /smɜːk/ in British English and /smɝːk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "smirk": sneer, simper, leer.

Example usage of "smirk": "He tried to suppress a smirk, but failed, looking very smug as a result.". More examples on the page.