grimace 1 of 2

Definition of grimacenext
as in to scowl
to distort one's face playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent

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grimace

2 of 2

noun

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

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 grimace
Verb
Mize appeared to grimace after a pair of pitches in the second inning. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026 In the sixth, Pasquantino grimaced during the follow-through on his swing. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026 After Malinin botched his final free in the singles competition, Cowan kept his distance as the skater crumbled into a grimace of abject disappointment. Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grimace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimace
Verb
  • Modern tiki tends to take a lighter touch, using more abstract graphics, less imagery of women and scowling gods.
    Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • One of them was an embryonic version of the Strokes, still figuring out how to play and scowl at the same time.
    Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Numbers might be up, but frowns are also up.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
  • Turning a smile into a frown, or a frown into a smile.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Regrets are common enough after lives are lost — when the cost of conflict is staring you right in the face, dead-eyed and countless — and yet this specific contrition persists long before the ships crash, the arrows fly, and the dragons roar.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 June 2026
  • Most passengers spend a week living inside the ship, not staring at it from shore.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • The prospect of doing it again with even larger stakes brought an excited smirk to Smart’s face.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Reference the aforementioned near-smirk.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Cassie’s OnlyFans adventures, for interest, were depicted with a kind of sneering derision toward the character’s poor judgement and lack of savvy.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • In a recent video interview, Windolf noted that there are plenty of Beatle fans who find Dylan abrasive and overrated, while there are Dylanologists who sneer at the pop songwriting of Lennon and McCartney.
    Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Or to sometimes instinctively mouth the words to Christmas carols the kids sang to him with tears or confusion in their eyes.
    Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The opposition’s mainstream leaders still mouth the catechism that change should come by Venezuelan hands, but more are openly courting external pressure to tilt the balance.
    Robert Muggah, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grimace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimace. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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