squinch

1 of 2

verb

ˈskwinch 

squinched; squinching; squinches

transitive verb

1

: to screw up (the eyes or face) : squint

2

a

: to make more compact

b

: to cause to crouch down or draw together

intransitive verb

1

: flinch

2

: to crouch down or draw together

3

: squint

squinch

2 of 2

noun

: a support (such as an arch, lintel, or corbeling) carried across the corner of a room under a superimposed mass

Illustration of squinch

Synonyms of squinch

Verb

• crouch
• huddle

Examples of squinch in a Sentence

Verb

squinched down to fit under the table

squinched up her eyes in disgust

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Noun

First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner. — Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018

Brick squinches, here decorated with windows and patterns mimicking those below, are not unique to the Samanid mausoleum. — Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018

Take Karlie Kloss for example, who at Tuesday night's Paper Towns premiere, showed off her propensity for a professional squinch. — Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably blend of squint and pinch

Noun

alteration of earlier scunch back part of the side of an opening

First Known Use

Verb

1835, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for squinch

• cinch
• finch
• flinch
• inch
• lynch
• pinch
• synch
• winch
• bullfinch
• goldfinch

Kids Definition

squinch

verb

ˈskwinch

1

: to screw up (the face or eyes) : squint

squinched in the bright light

2

: to make more compact

3

: to crouch down or draw together