as in to frown
to distort one's face
playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scowl
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
he made a grimace when he tasted the medicine
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grimace
Eric Cortellessa, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
He was accompanied by three of his town’s councilmen, two of whom grimaced while lugging a square suitcase with a combination lock down the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, around the corner, and into Central Park.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2025
Throughout baseball history, such collisions have been met mostly with grimaces and shrugs.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grimace
Verb
Even many diehard Trump supporters grimaced, fearful of punishment at the polls.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
He was accompanied by three of his town’s councilmen, two of whom grimaced while lugging a square suitcase with a combination lock down the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, around the corner, and into Central Park.
—Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
At one point, Hunt emerges onto London’s Trafalgar Square and grimaces at the sight of a massive protest.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2025
Throughout baseball history, such collisions have been met mostly with grimaces and shrugs.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grimace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimace
Verb
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In Israel it is frowned upon to criticize the nation, especially in front of outsiders.—
Uriel Kon
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
While some conservative clerics still frown upon women taking part in beauty pageants, many others in the Muslim community have been supportive of Hashwi.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Serve up in a stemmed glass, and garnish with a scowl, or perhaps a war story.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
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And only after stomping around for almost two full minutes did Roberts finally retreat, trudging back to the clubhouse with a scowl on his face.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
Verb
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For a moment, while the nation stared at her from their living rooms, this woman had closed her eyes.—
Deborah Levy,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
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All eyes in the golf world are staring at East Lake this week, host venue for the 2025 Tour Championship.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One of the two animals ended up with part of Hohl's head inside its mouth, with its jaws clamped around his cheek and skull, while the other clamped onto his left ankle.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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The balanced fruitiness and mild acidity cut through the richness, while a creamy, buttery mouthfeel provides richness and a mouth-coating texture.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Malvolio’s sneering high-handedness enrages the hedonistic members of Olivia’s household: her drunken cousin, Sir Toby Belch (John Ellison Conlee); his vacuous buddy Andrew Aguecheek (Jesse Tyler Ferguson); and her saucy maid, Maria (Daphne Rubin-Vega).—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Alan Clarke, executive director of advanced EV development at Ford, sitting next to Field, nodded in agreement while wearing a similar smirk.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Aug. 2025
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Meryl Streep gives Miranda Priestly's infamous smirk while in character on the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2 on Aug. 7 in New York City.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grimace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimace. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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