grimace

1 of 2

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

Noun

• scowl
• frown
• mouth
• smirk

Verb

• frown
• scowl
• 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

Throughout baseball history, such collisions have been met mostly with grimaces and shrugs. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025

Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town. —Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025

Verb

And a big reason why is that the little things become much more significant when a massive problem appears during the game – and that happened as Haliburton started to grimace and limp in the first half. —Tony East, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

His fast, athletic swing, grimacing expressions, large hands, and the audible thwack of ball-on-club distinguished him. —Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

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