Words to Describe a Facial Expression

Bob (United States of America)
These words will help you accurately describe an expression to one's face aside from frown or smile.
20 words 64 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. befuddled
    perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
    After reading the complex question, the girl looked befuddled and lost.
  2. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    After living alone for years, the old man looked surly to anyone who saw him.
  3. agonized
    expressing pain or agony
    After her daughter died, the woman looked agonized when ever she saw her picture.
  4. masked
    having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading
    His anger was masked by a false smile.
  5. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    After she'd won the argument, she looked very smug.
  6. weary
    physically and mentally fatigued
    After hard labor all day, the man's eyes looked weary.
  7. pained
    hurt or upset
    After the girl rejected him, the boy's face looked pained.
  8. morose
    showing a brooding ill humor
    Even two years after her son's death, the woman looked morose as she gazed at his picture.
  9. composed
    serenely self-possessed and free from agitation
    Every face around the poker table was carefully composed.
  10. concealed
    not accessible to view
    She concealed her fright so her little sister would feel safe.
  11. calculating
    good at tricking people to get something
    After she'd asked him a difficult question, he wore a calculating expression.
  12. hard
    resisting weight or pressure
    He glared at her; his expression was hard.
  13. blank
    void of expression
    Her face was blank and I could not tell if she was happy or angry.
  14. mischievous
    naughtily or annoyingly playful
    I didn't trust her mischievous grin.
  15. sly
    marked by skill in deception
    She offered a sly grin that told nothing.
  16. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    After mocking the teacher, the student gave a wry grin.
  17. fake
    a person who makes deceitful pretenses
    Her friends asked what was wrong, so she offered a fake smile and said nothing.
  18. deceitful
    marked by deliberate deceptiveness
  19. wane
    decrease in phase
  20. mournful
    expressing sorrow
Created on Fri Oct 11 16:52:45 EDT 2013 (updated Wed Dec 11 16:52:42 EST 2013)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.