GRIMACE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

grimace 1 of 2

verb

Definition of grimace

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

ˈgri-məs

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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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

Then, as Cerúndolo prepared to serve, Sinner grimaced, took a few gingerly steps, and stretched his apparently cramping legs. — Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Clark immediately started limping and grimaced as she was subbed out. — James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Noun

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 And Ahmed, with his fearful eyes and tense grimace, makes for a compellingly sad and isolated figure. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grimace

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimace

Verb

However, the youngster scowled at the suggestion that Argentina might face a trophy-less era following Messi's retirement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Nobody slouches in a great suit like West, and nobody scowls in a gorgeous coat like Miller.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of scowl

Noun

Among the terminated is a welder, Choi Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), who wears a frown so implacable that it might have been etched in steel.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
The late-night host teasingly drew his face into a frown in order to copy Washington’s facial expression.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of frown

Verb

Nakira’s mug shot showed a young Black woman with dark hair gathered at the nape of her neck, green eyes staring intently into the camera.

— Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
The Royals were out of the AL Central race by August and staring at another losing season.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of stare

Noun

The pair barely crack more than a perfunctory smirk, in stark contrast to the uproarious laughter emanating from Fielder’s laptop screen.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
My mom’s siblings usually arrived in a sour mood without greeting anyone at the table, my aunt’s brow furrowed and my uncle wearing a sneaky smirk.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of smirk

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Style

“Grimace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimace. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grimace

verb

noun

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