as in frown
a twisting of the facial features in disgust or disapproval
a moue of distaste at the display of bad manners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 moue
In her trademark cat-eye glasses, with her bitter-lemon moue, Hoffman, as Moth, is comedy just standing there; Harada, as Mustardseed, a warmth machine.
—
New York Times, 24 Oct. 2021
Not just any moue, either, but a supermoue—a whole cultural attitude distilled into a single boffff.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2020
New York Times, 24 Oct. 2021
Not just any moue, either, but a supermoue—a whole cultural attitude distilled into a single boffff.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moue
Noun
-
The Spaniard left hurriedly, carrying a frown that owed to a sense of injustice.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
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
Noun
-
And Ahmed, with his fearful eyes and tense grimace, makes for a compellingly sad and isolated figure.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Charlie Lindgren’s grimace was evident behind his mask.—
Bailey Johnson,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
So just sit and smile, a departure from a career built on scowl.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
This means a scowl is relatively likely to be an expression of anger.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Before the doors opened, youth lion dancers moved through the space in a traditional blessing ceremony, weaving between guests and collecting dollar bills offered through the lions’ mouths as onlookers cheered.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 May 2026
-
Through narrow, treacherous tunnels, some waterlogged and cold enough for wetsuits, others so tight oxygen was scarce, the men navigated 260 meters (approximately 850 feet), from the chamber they’d been trapped in to the cave’s mouth, a distance equivalent to the height of a 78-story building.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Lanolips 12-Hour Overnight Lip Mask goes on thick, healing cracked, dry lips overnight for an undeniably kissable pout.—
Emma Greene,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
-
In a beauty landscape increasingly centered around hybrid formulas, peptides offer genuine benefits to one’s pout.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moue. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
