Smirk vs. Smerk — What's the Difference?

A smirk is a smile evoking insolence, scorn, or offensive smugness, falling into the category of what Desmond Morris described as Deformed-compliment Signals.A smirk may also be an affected, ingratiating smile, as in Mr Bennet's description of Mr Wickham as making smirking love to all his new in-laws in the novel Pride and Prejudice.

Dated form of smirk

Smile in an irritatingly smug, conceited, or silly way

Dated form of smirk

A smug, conceited, or silly smile

(obsolete) smart; jaunty; spruce

To smile in an annoying self-satisfied manner.

See Smirk.

An annoying self-satisfied smile.

An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied, conceited or scornful.

A forced or affected smile.

To smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous.

(obsolete) smart; spruce; affected; simpering

To smile in an affected or conceited manner; to smile with affected complaisance; to simper.

A forced or affected smile; a simper.

Nice,; smart; spruce; affected; simpering.

A smile expressing smugness or scorn instead of pleasure

Smile affectedly or derisively