What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
smirked
Example
He smirked when he heard the news. [smirked: verb]
Example
She gave him a smirk before walking away. [smirk: noun]
sneer
Example
He sneered at her suggestion. [sneered: verb]
Example
She couldn't help but feel hurt by his sneer. [sneer: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Smirk is more commonly used than sneer in everyday language. Smirk is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while sneer is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between smirked and sneer?
While smirk is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, sneer is more formal and often used in more serious or confrontational situations.
