content smile

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "content smile" is not correct or usable in written English.
It would be better to say "content expression" or "smiling contentedly". For example: He had a content expression on his face as he watched the sunset.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When he rose, a content smile spread over his face.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I'm content smiling every day.

Huffington Post

Of course, having grown up in Italy and seen every last cowboy movie, I too wanted to wear hats and boots and whooshing skirts, to gyrate to my heart's content, smiling at my handsome partners.

Huffington Post

If it did, I'd have a parade of lunches with people who had silly, contented smiles on their faces because I regularly mix with really accomplished, decent people.

Huffington Post

At other times, provoked by an old letter, a snatch of a tune, or a waft of custard or cabbage, I set out in hope down memory lane, where I walk my blue remembered hills, eager to find again that land of lost content, a smile on my face ready to greet a past companion, only to find there is no smile in return.

The Guardian

You can waltz into work with a content, smug smile on your face.

The Guardian

"She's so content, always smiling at you," said Ms. L. as she sat in the lobby of an apartment building on West End Avenue, bouncing on her knee a 5-month-old with a pink hair clip.

The New York Times

"There's no money in SerBut.

Vice

Because in Trump's world, a woman should always be content and smiling ― as he talks right over her.

Huffington Post

First, the IAPS pictures were selected to cover the whole affective space (excluding erotic images), and then NAPS pictures were matched to them for content: landscapes, smiling faces, objects, snakes, wild animals, accidents, mutilated faces, and so forth.

Behavior Research Methods

The saccharine content of his smile increases; his eye-slits are no wider than razor's edges.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "content smile", opt for alternatives such as "contented smile", "satisfied smile", or rephrase to "a smile of contentment" for better grammatical correctness and clarity. Note that "content smile" might be interpreted as a malapropism or a non-native construction.

Common error

A common mistake is using the noun "content" as an adjective to describe a smile. To avoid this, use the adjective form "contented" (e.g., "contented smile") or rephrase to use a noun of state (e.g., "a smile of contentment").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "content smile", while not grammatically ideal according to Ludwig AI, functions as an adjective-noun phrase. The intention is to describe the type of smile, indicating that it reflects a state of contentment. However, Ludwig suggests that "content" should be replaced with a better-suited adjective such as "contented".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "content smile" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It's intended to describe a smile reflecting contentment, but the use of "content" as an adjective is questionable. Better alternatives include "contented smile", "satisfied smile", or "a smile of contentment". The phrase is infrequent and appears primarily in news and media sources, but its grammatical issues suggest avoiding it in formal writing. Therefore, when describing a smile that reflects satisfaction, choosing a more grammatically sound option is recommended for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contented smile

Uses the adjective "contented" instead of the noun "content", resulting in a grammatically correct phrase.

smiled contentedly

Turns "content" into an adverb modifying the verb "smiled", indicating the manner of smiling.

a smile of contentment

Rephrases to use "contentment" as a noun, describing the smile as expressive of that feeling.

satisfied smile

Replaces "content" with "satisfied" to emphasize fulfillment of expectations or desires.

pleased smile

Substitutes "content" with "pleased" to highlight a feeling of delight or gratification.

happy smile

Uses "happy" instead of "content" to broadly convey joy or pleasure in the smile.

peaceful smile

Emphasizes the tranquility and serenity reflected in the smile, shifting the focus from contentment to calmness.

a satisfied expression

Focuses on the overall expression, using "satisfied" to suggest fulfillment and well-being instead of specifically the smile.

a look of contentment

Shifts from the smile to a broader "look", representing an overall state of satisfaction and peace.

felt content and smiled

Separates the feeling of contentment from the action of smiling, describing two distinct but related elements of the experience.

FAQs

Is "content smile" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "content smile" is not considered grammatically correct. It is better to use "contented smile" or "a smile of contentment".

What's a better way to say "content smile"?

Instead of "content smile", you can use alternatives like "contented smile", "satisfied smile", or "a smile of contentment".

How can I use "contentment" in a sentence about smiling?

Instead of saying "content smile", you could say someone had "a smile of contentment" on their face. This uses "contentment" as a noun, correctly expressing the state of being content.

Is there a difference between a "contented smile" and a "happy smile"?

While both convey positive emotion, a "contented smile" suggests a deeper sense of peace and satisfaction, while a "happy smile" generally indicates joy or pleasure. The distinction is subtle but related to the intensity and source of the emotion.