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
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
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
Verb
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
Noun
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinch
Verb
-
Ten minutes before the start of Daniel Radcliffe’s one-man show on Broadway, Every Brilliant Thing, the actor is crouched in the aisle.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The 6-foot-3 Blackmon is crouching down to greet Mabel, who stood about 4-foot-7.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lens shift, in the vertical direction only, offers similar flexibility for adjusting the projector's height relative to the screen without tilting the projector and distorting the image.—
M. David Stone,
PC Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
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Even if direct fighting eased soon, damaged facilities, disrupted logistics and shipping risk could keep fuel markets distorted for weeks or months.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Freeny absorbed the impact like Marvin Hagler, hardly flinching and brushing it off.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone in the barber shop flinched at the sound and tensed their shoulders.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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After Malinin botched his final free in the singles competition, Cowan kept his distance as the skater crumbled into a grimace of abject disappointment.—
Colleen Barry,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With bombs raining down on Iraq, A-listers huddled with their teams to figure out the right note to strike.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
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The final days of our ordeal blurred into a nightmare of torment, wandering while daylight lasted and huddling under open shelters at night, shaking with cold.—
Elwyn "Bud" Myers,
Outdoor Life,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The difference in strain causes the structures to naturally curl upward.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
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Unlike curling, though, wheelchair curling doesn’t use a sweeper to clear the ice.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
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Forrest pushed it and winced as tear gas sprayed.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Not a quiver in his lips, yet his frown growing.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
3 Dec. 2025
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My best friend Russell is an acupuncturist, and seemed like the perfect person to place my tape, slapping it on my frown lines, crow’s-feet, and nasolabial folds.—
Lena Dunham,
Vogue,
19 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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