�������t¶��

A smirk is a kind of smile, but it’s not a friendly smile—it’s often a sarcastic or arrogant one or one that’s intended to provoke or irritate the person who sees it.

Smirk is also a verb that means to smile in such a way. People often smirk to show contempt for someone or something—such as by smirking at a person who’s angry at them.

Sometimes, though, the word simply refers to a kind of slight smile or a smile that looks like a smirk usually does—a baby might smirk, for example, obviously without meaning anything by it.

Example: Wipe that smirk off your face and take this seriously!

The first records of smirk come from before 900. It comes from the Old English smearcian, which is related to the Old English smer, meaning “derision.” It’s also related to the Old High German words bismer, “contempt,” and �����������ō��, “to scorn.”

A smirk doesn’t usually look like a real smile, because it isn’t. People smile due to happiness or amusement, but a smirk is often a weaponized smile. People usually smirk because they’re trying to annoy someone, especially a person who’s already upset. People sometimes smirk at the person who is scolding them to show that they’re really not taking it seriously. Such a smirk is often intended to indicate that the person who’s doing the scolding can’t really do anything about it, and that amuses the smirking person. The expression “wipe that smirk off your face” is often used in response to situations like this.

A smirk can also indicate that someone is smug or self-satisfied. Some people smirk all the time because they see everything and everyone else as a joke—which is another way of saying that they’re contemptuous.

But not only jerks smirk. Less commonly, a smirk might be a slight smile, like the kind you get when you think of something funny in a setting where you shouldn’t be laughing or smiling to yourself.

What are some other forms of smirk?

• smirkingly (adverb)
• smirking (adjective)
• smirker (noun)

What are some synonyms for smirk?

• sneer

What are some words that often get used in discussing smirk?

��

• smile
• grin
• sarcasm
• smug
• arrogant
• snarky

Smirk is almost always used negatively, unless it’s simply referring to a smile that looks like a smirk.

During these difficult times, strive to keep a stiff upper lip. For even more flair add a knowing smirk.

— Myrna Tellingheusen (@PearlsFromMyrna)

As my mother used to say, “You’d better wipe that smirk off your face young lady.” In my moms defense I was a rotten teenager 😔

— Cutie Pie ☘️🌷🌊🍎🏈 (@manneb2015)

being on twitter is just nose huffing and smirking at your phone

— willllll (@_ogwill_)

��

��

Which of the following words would NOT usually be used to describe a smirk?

A. genuine
B. sarcastic
C. smug
D. contemptuous