grimace

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noun

gri·​mace ˈgri-məs  gri-ˈmās 

: a facial expression usually of disgust, disapproval, or pain

a grimace of hate and rage

grimacer noun

grimace

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verb

grimaced; grimacing

intransitive verb

: to distort one's face in an expression usually of pain, disgust, or disapproval

Grimacing slightly, he runs his finger over the back of his heel, where a deep … fissure has opened inside a callus.

—Chris Ballard

My father shifted his weight and grimaced. The sheet slid off his injured leg, the calf swollen, purple as a plum …

—Bernard Cooper

Synonyms of grimace

Noun

• scowl
• frown
• smirk

Verb

• scowl
• frown
• stare
• sneer
• smirk
• mouth

Examples of grimace in a Sentence

Noun

The patient made a painful grimace as the doctor examined his wound.

he made a grimace when he tasted the medicine

Verb

playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He was knocked down by center Brayden Schenn on the final faceoff, then skated off the ice with a grimace. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026

He was immortalized in a perpetual full-body muscle flex, and bore the grimace of a guy who really, really wants to pick a fight. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026

Verb

Seigler remained down for several minutes, bleeding from one arm and grimacing in pain as interim manager Chad Tracy and trainers rushed out to check him for a head injury. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026

But the Canadian dug in to hold, and Djokovic was still grimacing in pain in between points. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 7 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Middle French, alteration of grimache, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English grīma mask

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1762, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grimace

• elymus
• maximus
• epididymis
• euonymus
• pseudonymous

Kids Definition

grimace

noun

grim·​ace

ˈgrim-əs, 

grim-ˈās

: facial expression usually of disgust, disapproval, or pain

grimace verb