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Smirk vs Grimace - What's the difference?

smirk | grimace |

As nouns the difference between smirk and grimace

is that smirk is an uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied or scornful while grimace is a distortion of the countenance, whether habitual, from affectation, or momentary and occasional, to express some feeling, as contempt, disapprobation, complacency, etc.; a smirk; a made-up face.

As verbs the difference between smirk and grimace

is that smirk is to smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous while grimace is to make grimaces; to distort one's face; to make faces.

As an adjective smirk

is smart; spruce; affected; simpering.

smirk

English

(wikipedia smirk)

Alternative forms

*

Noun

(en noun)
  • An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent, self-satisfied or scornful.
  • A forced or affected smile; a simper.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • The bride, all smirk and blush, had just entered.

    Derived terms

    * smirker * smirkily * smirkingly * smirky

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To smile in a way that is affected, smug, insolent or contemptuous.

    • Synonyms

    * simper * shit-eating grin (vulgar)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) smart; spruce; affected; simpering
  • * Spenser
    • So smirk , so smooth.

    grimace

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A distortion of the countenance, whether habitual, from affectation, or momentary and occasional, to express some feeling, as contempt, disapprobation, complacency, etc.; a smirk; a made-up face.
  • * "I trundle off to bed, eyes brimming, face twisted into a grateful glistening grimace , and awaken the next day wondering what all the fuss was about." — Opera News , March 2005

    • Verb

    (grimac)
  • To make grimaces; to distort one's face; to make faces.