simpering

UK: /ˈsɪmpərɪŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sim•per /ˈsɪmpɚ/   v. [no object]

1. to smile in a silly, false, or self-conscious way:
   She simpered at the boss as he made another corny joke.

n. [countable]

2. a silly, false, self-conscious smile.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sim•per  (sim′pər), v.i. 

1. to smile in a silly, self-conscious way.

v.t. 

2. to say with a simper.

n. 

3. a silly, self-conscious smile.

• akin to Middle Dutch zimperlijc, dialect, dialectal Danish simper affected, Danish sippe affected woman, origin, originally one who sips (see sip), a way of drinking thought to be affected 1555–65

sim′per•er, n. 
sim′per•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1, 3. smirk, snigger, snicker.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

simper / ˈsɪmpə/ verb

1. (intransitive) to smile coyly, affectedly, or in a silly self-conscious way
2. (transitive) to utter (something) in a simpering manner

noun

1. a simpering smile; smirk

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from Dutch simper affected

ˈsimperer noun

ˈsimpering adjective , noun

ˈsimperingly adverb