smirk /smɜːk $ smɜːrk/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: smearcian 'to smile' ]
to smile in an unpleasant way that shows that you are pleased by someone else’s bad luck or think you are better than other people:
The boys tried not to smirk.
smirk at
What are you smirking at?
—smirk noun [countable] :
He had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
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THESAURUS
▪ smile to make your mouth curve upwards, in order to be friendly or because you are happy or amused:
She smiled when she read his email.
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‘I’m delighted to meet you,' George said, smiling at the girl.
▪ grin to give a big smile:
The two boys were grinning at each other.
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The coach was grinning from ear to ear (=was grinning a lot) when the team scored.
▪ beam to give a big happy smile for a long time, because you are very pleased or proud:
She beamed with pride as her son collected the award.
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The wedding couple were outside beaming at the camera.
▪ smirk to smile in an unpleasant way, for example because you are pleased about someone else’s bad luck or because you know something that someone else does not know:
The children smirked when the teacher dropped all the books on the floor.
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What are you smirking about?
▪ simper disapproving written to smile in a silly and annoying way:
a group of simpering schoolgirls
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I hated the way she simpered every time a man spoke to her.