GRIMACING Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

grimacing

verb

present participle of grimace

as in frowning

to distort one's face playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent

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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 grimacing Judge could be seen grimacing on a check swing during the third inning and hobbling in the outfield during the fifth inning. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 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 Garner started the video with a clip of her drinking leftovers from the drink container and seemingly getting a brain freeze, holding her hand to her forehead and grimacing. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 On Monday’s episode of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, a grimacing Stewart was flabbergasted at why, exactly, the president elbowed his way into a spotlight clearly not intended for him. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 21 July 2026 Seigler remained down for several minutes, bleeding from one arm and grimacing in pain as interim manager Chad Tracy and trainers rushed out to check him for a head injury. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026 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 Murdaugh was grimacing and biting his lower lip during the exchange. — Jeffrey Collins, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grimacing

Verb

Looking on was Trooper Major, body camera footage shows, frowning in the sun as the deputies followed guidance from a portable defibrillator device.

— Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
This focuses readers on the all-black uniforms of the veiled pupils, who—in a long frame at the center of the page—sit between the looming, frowning teacher on the right and Marji on the left, who stands up to explain that her uncle was executed by the Islamic regime.

— Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026

Definition of frowning

Verb

That is one of the tantalizing questions bubbling up in A Talent for Murder, in which Helen Mirren embodies Highsmith in all her devious, scowling genius.

— Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of scowling

Verb

His life trajectory changed when one client, a woman in her 50s, tired of staring at the stark white demarcation line every three weeks, begged him to take her gray.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2026
In the first, Cameron and David are staring at each other in front of a net of twinkling lights.

— Michael Nied, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of staring

Verb

Dawson was ejected by smirking plate ump Joe West in a 1991 game for arguing West’s shape-shifting strike zone.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2026
That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of smirking

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 sneering

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grimaces

grimacing

grime

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“Grimacing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grimacing. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grimacing

verb

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