as in frowns
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
he made a grimace when he tasted the medicine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scowls
to distort one's face
playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grimaces
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
Ask anyone in Teahupo’o about that thing, and expect grimaces and shaking heads.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2024
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
Ask anyone in Teahupo’o about that thing, and expect grimaces and shaking heads.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2024
Verb
Chee grimaces in pain from his ghost sickness wounds, and Manuelito notices.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimaces
Noun
-
Those surrounding the bride stood up and began clapping, their frowns shifting to wide smiles.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
If only humans kept their expressions to cartoonishly clear frowns and smiles.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However, there has been a growing edge to Denver’s current group, personified on the field in the way safety Talanoa Hufanga flies to the ball and in the way Cooper scowls under his eye black.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
People can be seen running along the top of the bus and sitting on the front bumper as the driver stares glumly ahead from inside windows tagged with graffiti.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Washington stares blankly at the ceiling, over and over.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Camille smirks into her wine, feigning terror but secretly gleeful at the display.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Cruz then smirks as the officers detaining her place her on the hood of a vehicle.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile her old-school Communist grandmother sneers at the tactics her Red Diaper daughter employed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
My eleven-year-old self rolls her eyes, glares at my thirty-six-year-old body, and silently calls me fat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grimaces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimaces. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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