Synonyms of grimace

grimace 1 of 2

verb

as in to scowl

to distort one's face

playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scowl
• frown
• stare
• sneer
• smirk
• mouth
• glare
• make a face
• mug
• snarl
• growl
• gaze
• pout
• pull a face
• contort
• glower
• deform
• gape
• gloom
• warp
• ogle
• twist
• simper
• lower

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smile
• beam
• grin

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scowl
• frown
• smirk
• mouth
• pout
• moue
• face
• wince
• stare
• sneer
• snarl
• look
• lower
• growl
• mow
• glare
• mug
• flinch
• snoot
• rictus
• glower
• squinch
• scoff
• simper

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• smile
• laugh
• grin

Example Sentences

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