Smirkers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who smile in a self-satisfied, often smug or ironic manner; people who display a knowing or sly expression implying superiority or secret amusement; persons characterized by a quiet, conceited grin that can suggest arrogance or hidden knowledge
2. People who wear a slight, often mocking smile showing a sense of pride or contempt; those who exhibit an expression blending amusement with scorn or confidence; individuals whose facial expression conveys a subtle but perceptible sense of smugness or self-importance
3. Characters marked by a half-smile that suggests slyness, irony, or disdain; persons showing an expression that can be interpreted as scornful or self-assured; those who give off a look of quiet confidence combined with a hint of derision or cheekiness

Etymology: "Smirkers" is the plural of "smirker," a noun for someone who smirks, and it is formed from "smirk" plus the suffix "-er," which turns a verb into a noun for a person or thing that performs the action. Smirkers, then, are simply the people doing the smirking, which is why the noun is most often used in the plural, as a group of self-satisfied onlookers or a room full of knowing faces. The base word "smirk" carries the character of the person it describes. A smirk is a smile that is faintly contemptuous or self-satisfied, and the suffix "-er" simply turns that expression into a label for whoever wears it, so the plural names a crowd sharing the same look.

Synonyms: sneerers, grinners, sniggers, mockers, snickering

Antonyms: frowners, scowlers, serious faces, grimaces