as in frowning
to distort one's face
playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grimacing
After taking a fastball on the knee in the fifth game of the series, outfield veteran George Springer returned to the starting lineup on Sunday and was noticeably limping and grimacing during his at-bats.
—
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Twenty-three games are too soon to declare anything, but Coleman already has a grimacing reputation to shake.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
In the new logo, which the university said was designed in-house, the mascot's grimacing expression is the same, but his fists are down.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
But while running in from third to score, Abreu began grimacing and was removed from the game the following inning.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Twenty-three games are too soon to declare anything, but Coleman already has a grimacing reputation to shake.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
In the new logo, which the university said was designed in-house, the mascot's grimacing expression is the same, but his fists are down.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
But while running in from third to score, Abreu began grimacing and was removed from the game the following inning.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimacing
Verb
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Now our favorite scowling friend is getting his own movie, too.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
15 Oct. 2025
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In terms of my entry point to him, just understanding that this wasn’t a monster that was going to be scowling in the shadows and looking for any opportunity to hurt someone.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Willow begins to whimper, and backs away from the door—but sits promptly down, still staring at it.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Making things with your hands will shift your brain into problem-solving mode and sparks creativity in ways staring at a screen never will.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The smirking Nabokov is tiresome.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The Poets smirking at us in the garden, their coats blowing open like bat wings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Norton, meanwhile, is having the time of his life sneering and rolling his eyes at the two younger men who have somehow become his boss.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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Unlike The Beatles, Oasis arrived in the US with trademark sneering entitlement.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grimacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimacing. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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