as in scowled
to distort one's face
playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent
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Recent Examples of grimaced
The Avs’ star defender quickly grimaced, dropped his stick and appeared to grab his right shoulder in agony.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
In the sixth, Pasquantino grimaced during the follow-through on his swing.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
As the others grinned and grimaced at their rivals’ responses, Becerra was as stone-faced as Buster Keaton.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Wang grimaced, eying his neighbor’s yard.
—Gabriel Debenedetti, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Ohtani let out a howl and grimaced before going to first base.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Towns was downgraded to questionable Friday morning, shot around ahead of tipoff against Chicago, then grimaced and grabbed at his arm before leaving the floor and being ruled out for the night with a right elbow impingement.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Williams knocked knees late in the fourth quarter against Houston and immediately grimaced, but didn’t show any effects after posting 20 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2026
Castle grimaced in pain for about a minute after the Rockets' Josh Okogie inadvertently banged into the 2024 Rookie of the Year's already sore left thumb midway through the third quarter of the 111-106 loss at Houston.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 14 May 2026
In the sixth, Pasquantino grimaced during the follow-through on his swing.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
As the others grinned and grimaced at their rivals’ responses, Becerra was as stone-faced as Buster Keaton.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Wang grimaced, eying his neighbor’s yard.
—Gabriel Debenedetti, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Ohtani let out a howl and grimaced before going to first base.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Towns was downgraded to questionable Friday morning, shot around ahead of tipoff against Chicago, then grimaced and grabbed at his arm before leaving the floor and being ruled out for the night with a right elbow impingement.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Williams knocked knees late in the fourth quarter against Houston and immediately grimaced, but didn’t show any effects after posting 20 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 21 Feb. 2026
Castle grimaced in pain for about a minute after the Rockets' Josh Okogie inadvertently banged into the 2024 Rookie of the Year's already sore left thumb midway through the third quarter of the 111-106 loss at Houston.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimaced
Verb
-
Those that attended mostly sat and scowled.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Another line of attack likens the show to when bachelorette parties invade gay bars — a practice frequently scowled upon by gay patrons.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Skateboarding, a counter-culture sport once frowned upon in the mainstream, has gained popularity in recent years.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
19 May 2026
-
While the bizarre urge to chuck things at rock stars performing music onstage has been around since the advent of, well, rock stars and stages, it’s increasingly frowned upon and widely considered the ultimate concert faux pas.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Colorado stared at a 3-0 deficit after the first intermission.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
-
Sashko stared at the fingers for a long time.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
One smirked while the others stared me down.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
-
Corey observed the Amazon representatives smirked when residents spoke.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Texas and Florida were COVID-19 wildfires, where the rates of infection soared due to the irresponsible actions of their respective governors who allowed businesses to remain open, all but sneered at immunization and encouraged people to gather maskless at public venues.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The universities have sneered at the people who are feeding them.—
Richard K. Vedder,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The two-time Masters champion spun, glared at the spectator, grumbled under his breath and seemed to point out the person to security.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
The two-time Masters champion spun, glared at the spectator, grumbled under his breath and seemed to point out the person to security.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grimaced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimaced. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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