SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
smirk
verb
To smile in a smug, affected, or self-satisfied manner.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Smile smugly
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA smirk suggests smugness or affected amusement. Sneer adds contempt, while a grin may be open and friendly.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See smirk in use
The character begins to smirk before realizing that his clever reply has offended the room.
The ambassador would smirk after winning a trivial argument, allowing a smug satisfaction to undermine the earlier polish.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license