smirking

1 of 2

present participle of smirk entry 1

smirking

2 of 2

adjective

smirk·​ing ˈsmər-kiŋ How to pronounce smirking (audio)
: showing or suggesting a smug, condescending, or self-satisfied attitude
a smirking reply
… driving around in a tour bus with his own smirking face printed on the side.Ignatiy Vishnevetsky
… mocked by the smirking boy and his giggling girlfriend.Will Storr
By flipping his razor-sharp lyrics on himself, Eminem subverts the smirking superiority that plagues mainstream rap, a wily underdog move that lets him get away with more than he could otherwise.N'Gai Croal

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of smirking was circa 1582

Dictionary Entries Near smirking

Cite this Entry

“Smirking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smirking. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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