simper
/ˈsɪmpə
/verb [no object]
Smile in an affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating manner: she simpered, looking pleased with herself [with direct speech]: ‘Luke, darling,’ she simpered...
- Miss Waller was always smiling, almost simpering, and Miss Hooper was a mild-mannered pale-coloured personality.
- He's usually got a piece of arm candy shooting him affectionate looks and simpering about how gorgeous he is.
- He despised simpering, giggling, weak women who had nothing better to do than cry and make themselves appear ridiculous to gain favor with him.
Synonyms
smile affectedly, smile coquettishly, giggle, titter, smirk, look coy
noun
An affectedly coquettish, coy, or ingratiating smile or gesture: an exaggerated simper...
- It's not a smirk or a simper or even a smile - it's a full-on grin.
- He smiled a sickly simper, eyeing the rabbit with more contempt by the minute.
- You will never get a simper or a giggle out of her unless she is being satirical.
Derivatives
simperingly
/ adverb ...- Once again, he speaks in a simperingly lifeless Rada-English accent.
- They capture headlines by merely walking into a room holding hands, smiling simperingly, commenting on sick African babies.
- It is the worst, most simperingly preposterous, tepid football song I have ever heard.
Origin
Mid 16th century: of unknown origin; compare with German zimpfer 'elegant, delicate'.
Rhymes
- Maghribi
- Maghzen
- magi
- Magian
- magic
- magic acid
- magical
- magical circle
- magicality
- magically
- magical realism
- magical realist
- magical square
- magical thinking
- magic angle
- magic-angle spinning
- magic box
- magic bullet
- magic carpet
- magic chain stitch
- magic circle
- magic cookie
- magic eye
- magic formula
- magician