squinch 1 of 2

verb

ˈskwinch How to pronounce squinch (audio)
Definition of squinchnext
1
as in to crouch
to lie low with the limbs close to the body squinched down to fit under the table

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2
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition squinched up her eyes in disgust

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3
as in to flinch
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust didn't squinch a bit when the intruder pulled a knife on him

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squinch

2 of 2

noun

as in grimace

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of squinch
Verb
Some boys and girls look directly at the camera, while others squinch up their faces. — Mary Carole McCauley, baltimoresun.com, 18 Jan. 2022 To deepen the illusion that life is just one big fashion spread, we've been trained to 1) smize, 2) duck face, 3) squinch, and now, 4) fish gape. — Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinch
  1. crouch
  2. distort
  3. flinch
  4. grimace
  5. huddle
  6. curl
  7. wince
  8. frown
Verb
  • Nearby, kids were crouching to look into a clear tube tank and even adults were sliding on their backs under the adjacent upside-down jellyfish tank to snap a picture of these topsy-turvy creatures.
    — Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Leoni quickly peeled herself off of Grant while smiling, and Ortega crouched down on the floor.
    — Adam B. Vary, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of crouch
Verb
  • Trump portrait removed from Colorado Capitol after president called it 'distorted' Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY.
    — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
  • And Washington demanded that the Chinese government stop subsidizing the production and export of goods, which distorted the global marketplace.
    — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of distort
Verb
  • But the Clippers didn’t flinch, shaking off an early 12-point deficit to beat the Cavs, 132-119, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
    — Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2025
  • But at that moment, looking up from the examination table at Tina, her dark hair framing her unsmiling face, Lilian neither hesitated nor flinched.
    — Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of flinch
Noun
  • Those could also prove useful, but will face the challenge of distinguishing facial expressions unique to pain rather than similar grimaces related to being hungry.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 May 2017
  • In the movie, the monkey is a two-foot-tall sculpted plastic model whose arms bang up and down on a drum, as his mouth opens up to bare its teeth in a violent grimace.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Definition of grimace
Verb
  • Listen to this article Visitors flock to Volusia County’s Blue Spring State Park in droves to see manatees huddled for warmth in the wintertime, and the park typically draws capacity crowds amid summertime swimming weather.
    — Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2025
  • We were all huddled together under our beautiful tarp, but freezing in the rain.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of huddle
Verb
  • Slowly lift your upper body off the mat, eventually curling to extend the arms toward the feet.
    — Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Your feet should be hip-width apart with your toes curled forward.
    — Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of curl
Verb
  • Then, their star sophomore went up for a rebound early in the second quarter and emerged from under the hoop wincing with pain, an image that inevitably conjured thoughts of the worst-case scenario.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Everyone on the Duke sidelines held their collective breath as the star winced in pain.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of wince
Noun
  • Shuffling feet, frowns or darting eyes signal discomfort and anxiety.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Below are some of the stocks JPMorgan frowns on: Vaccine maker Novavax is rated underweight by JPMorgan analysts.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of frown

Browse Nearby Words

squiggling
squinch
squinched
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Cite this Entry

“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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