as in frowns
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
he made a grimace when he tasted the medicine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in scowls
to distort one's face
playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grimaces
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
Ask anyone in Teahupo’o about that thing, and expect grimaces and shaking heads.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2024
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Noun
And yet, the wry grimaces that followed said the quiet part out loud.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
Ask anyone in Teahupo’o about that thing, and expect grimaces and shaking heads.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2024
Verb
Chee grimaces in pain from his ghost sickness wounds, and Manuelito notices.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimaces
Noun
-
Greg’s smile, contrasted with the frowns and thumbs-down from the rest of the crew, makes for an entertaining visual.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Those surrounding the bride stood up and began clapping, their frowns shifting to wide smiles.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
However, there has been a growing edge to Denver’s current group, personified on the field in the way safety Talanoa Hufanga flies to the ball and in the way Cooper scowls under his eye black.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
How often do smiles express happiness and scowls express anger?—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
27 Mar. 2020
Verb
-
An antelope on a ridge teasingly stares before bounding off up the rocky hill.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The foursome stares at each other for a moment, then Ashley and Austin literally run away.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Camille smirks into her wine, feigning terror but secretly gleeful at the display.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Cruz then smirks as the officers detaining her place her on the hood of a vehicle.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile her old-school Communist grandmother sneers at the tactics her Red Diaper daughter employed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
My eleven-year-old self rolls her eyes, glares at my thirty-six-year-old body, and silently calls me fat.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grimaces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimaces. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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