1
2
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition
squinched up her eyes in disgust
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to flinch
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
didn't squinch a bit when the intruder pulled a knife on him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squinch
Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018
Here, she's added parted lips, slightly sucked-in cheeks, and a subtle chin tilt on top of her master squinch.
—Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Brick squinches, here decorated with windows and patterns mimicking those below, are not unique to the Samanid mausoleum.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018
Take Karlie Kloss for example, who at Tuesday night's Paper Towns premiere, showed off her propensity for a professional squinch.
—Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015
Mary Carole McCauley, baltimoresun.com, 18 Jan. 2022
To deepen the illusion that life is just one big fashion spread, we've been trained to 1) smize, 2) duck face, 3) squinch, and now, 4) fish gape.
—Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Striking a more calculated pose, Kloss squinches her eyes, which aids in further carving out her high cheekbones and defining her jawline.
—Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015
Verb
First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018
Here, she's added parted lips, slightly sucked-in cheeks, and a subtle chin tilt on top of her master squinch.
—Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Brick squinches, here decorated with windows and patterns mimicking those below, are not unique to the Samanid mausoleum.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018
Take Karlie Kloss for example, who at Tuesday night's Paper Towns premiere, showed off her propensity for a professional squinch.
—Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015
Noun
Some boys and girls look directly at the camera, while others squinch up their faces.
—Mary Carole McCauley, baltimoresun.com, 18 Jan. 2022
To deepen the illusion that life is just one big fashion spread, we've been trained to 1) smize, 2) duck face, 3) squinch, and now, 4) fish gape.
—Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Striking a more calculated pose, Kloss squinches her eyes, which aids in further carving out her high cheekbones and defining her jawline.
—Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinch
Verb
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Officers then discovered the man, who was identified as Gamboa, with a minor gunshot wound, crouched down among a small group of people.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
23 June 2025
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On Saturday, at an anti-Trump No Kings protest in Salt Lake City, Utah, a man reportedly appeared to be crouching behind a wall, while carrying what looked like an AR-15-style rifle.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Donovan continued that social media also distorts wealth.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
29 June 2025
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However, the same technologies that can immortalize could also distort and manipulate reality.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Judge Subramanian didn’t flinch, siding with the government.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
3 July 2025
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When the conversation turned to the metaphorical messes — like heartbreak — the 54-year-old didn’t flinch.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Throughout baseball history, such collisions have been met mostly with grimaces and shrugs.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Tense scenes played out in the chamber as voting came to a standstill, dragging on for hours as holdout senators huddled for negotiations.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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Tense scenes played out in the chamber as voting came to a standstill, dragging for hours as holdout senators huddled for negotiations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 June 2025
Verb
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Calvert stands about 5 foot 1, has smile lines around her big blue eyes and keeps her strawberry-blond bob neatly curled.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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If the particles are flying in the direction of your thumb, their spin follows the direction your fingers curl—on either your right hand or your left.—
Zack Savitsky,
Wired News,
22 June 2025
Verb
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Dakota Johnson is more charming than usual here but moves like someone whose feet have never touched the ground, who has never winced looking at a bill.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
25 June 2025
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Spieth struggled throughout his opening round and was seen wincing in pain several times, even losing hold of a club.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Beantown frowns at each breaking news sounder on talk radio or ESPN insider post on social media.—
Bill Speros,
Boston Herald,
2 July 2025
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Jamie frowns and starts to twist a little on his barstool, turning to face the ocean — and away from me.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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