Meaning & use

smirking

verb·Everyday

Last updated

Giving a smug, self-satisfied, or knowing smile.

See it in a sentence

He couldn't stop smirking after winning the bet.

She caught her sister smirking behind her hand during the meeting.

A note on using this word

A smirk differs from a genuine smile in that it usually conveys smugness or amusement at someone else's expense.

Words with a similar meaning

grinning smuglysneering

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

frowning

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