grimace 1 of 2

verb

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grimace

2 of 2

noun

ˈgri-məs How to pronounce grimace (audio)
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
But the Canadian dug in to hold, and Djokovic was still grimacing in pain in between points. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 7 July 2026 Adames departed Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves due to back spasms after striking out to end the seventh inning, noticeably grimacing during the follow-through of his swing. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Noun
Charlie Lindgren’s grimace was evident behind his mask. — Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2026 But as his play-by-play partner and Thursday night’s emcee, Eric Collins, geared up to invite another guest up to the podium, the big smile Curry had had at the ready all evening turned into a grimace. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grimace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimace
  1. scowl
  2. frown
  3. stare
  4. smirk
  5. sneer
  6. mouth
Verb
  • Whether his teams were good or bad, his outspoken and occasionally scowling personality almost always commanded the room.
    — Carl Steward, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The note was written on Cohn’s personal stationery, imprinted with a scowling caricature of himself.
    — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of scowl
Noun
  • Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • Numbers might be up, but frowns are also up.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Definition of frown
Verb
  • The students stared at their feet and struggled to keep straight faces.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Very few things in movies and television shows delight me as much as a mysterious character revealing his or her fascinating backstory through an extended monologue that is delivered while staring off into the unspecified middle distance.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stare
Noun
  • Orlando Bloom flashes a shirtless smirk while on vacation in Marmi, Italy on July 26.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of smirk
Verb
  • If traditional noir drew much of its energy from sneering with style at America’s sunny master narratives, those narratives have largely broken down, as has the homogenous mass-media ecosystem that endlessly recirculated them.
    — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • But the Velvets were sneering at the false dichotomy between those things back in the ’60s.
    — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of sneer
Verb
  • Trump has been willing to mouth these words.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026
  • To sterilize empty jars, set them mouth up on the rack in a boiling-water canner.
    — Kelly Brant, Arkansas Online, 12 May 2026
Definition of mouth

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Cite this Entry

“Grimace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimace. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of grimace for Spanish Speakers

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