smirking

1 of 2

present participle of smirk entry 1

smirking

2 of 2

adjective

smirk·​ing ˈsmər-kiŋ 

: 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