Crossword Genius

Smirking has to irritate (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

irk

'irritate' is the definition.
(to irk is to irritate)

'smirking has' is the wordplay.
'has' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'IRK' is hidden within 'smirking'.

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for irk that I've seen before include "cause annoyance" , "Annoy in quirky way" , "Irritate, annoy" , "Wind up" , "Annoy, bother" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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