Shirk vs Smirk - What's the difference?
shirk | smirk |
To avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from.
* Hare
To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away.
* Byron
To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation.
* Bishop Rainbow
English heteronyms
An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied or scornful.
A forced or affected smile; a simper.
* Sir Walter Scott
(obsolete) smart; spruce; affected; simpering
* Spenser
As verbs the difference between shirk and smirk
is that shirk is to avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc; to stay away from while smirk is to smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous.As nouns the difference between shirk and smirk
is that shirk is one who shirks or shirk can be (islam) the unforgivable sin of idolatry while smirk is an uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied or scornful.As an adjective smirk is
(obsolete) smart; spruce; affected; simpering.shirk
English
Etymology 1
First attested use in 1625 – 1635, apparently from association with shark (verb form), or from (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- the usual makeshift by which they try to shirk difficulties
- If you have a job, don't shirk from it by staying off work.
- One of the cities shirked from the league.
- You that never heard the call of any vocation, that shirk living from others, but time from yourselves.
Synonyms
* blow off (US) * goldbrick (dated)See also
* malingerEtymology 2
(etyl) (širk , "idolatry").References
smirk
English
(wikipedia smirk)Alternative forms
*Noun
(en noun)- The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.
Derived terms
* smirker * smirkily * smirkingly * smirkySynonyms
* simper * shit-eating grin (vulgar)Adjective
(en adjective)- So smirk , so smooth.