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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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

His carefully coiffed side parting is as immaculate as his smile, something that distinguishes him from the rest of his party, whose members tend to grimace rather than grin. — Esme Nicholson, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026 More people were wrapped around the block grimacing about not getting inside to support the local artists than made it inside. — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Noun

He was knocked down by center Brayden Schenn on the final faceoff, then skated off the ice with a grimace. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026 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 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

The boy on the truck stared at the back of the gathering, his aim focused on the captain.

— Ron Farina, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026
The first half of the film is on the dull side, featuring lots of footage of Fielder and Holmes staring at each other, unblinking, in an attempt to convince each other of their sincerity.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 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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“Grimace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimace. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of grimace

verb

noun

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