squinch 1 of 2

verb

ˈskwinch How to pronounce squinch (audio)
Definition of squinchnext
1
as in to crouch
to lie low with the limbs close to the body squinched down to fit under the table

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2
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition squinched up her eyes in disgust

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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

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squinch

2 of 2

noun

as in grimace

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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 squinch
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
First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner. — 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinch
  1. crouch
  2. distort
  3. flinch
  4. grimace
  5. huddle
  6. curl
  7. wince
  8. frown
Verb
  • At one point, the video shows a bystander and two young children crouching behind a tree on the sidewalk on 41st Avenue as Castillo walked toward them just before an officer holding a stun gun blocked his path.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Melvin then tried walking out of the door, crouching down to continue his apologies in the frame.
    — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of crouch
Verb
  • This can, in turn, distort their expectations of real relationships.
    — Megan Kelly, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The layer can distort incoming starlight before sensors can process it.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of distort
Verb
  • The bear case on AI capex has always rested on concentration, the idea that a handful of American hyperscalers carry the entire buildout and will eventually flinch.
    — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • When thrown against a far more complex mix containing copper, nickel, and sodium, the system didn’t flinch.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of flinch
Noun
  • Back at the team bus, the high fives and handshakes wore grimaces.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • He was knocked down by center Brayden Schenn on the final faceoff, then skated off the ice with a grimace.
    — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
Definition of grimace
Verb
  • Jones and Ware huddled in the hallway outside Compton's courtroom for more than an hour, coming up with a temporary proposal that was acceptable to both sides.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The concern was echoed Friday by Jessica Steele, who huddled under an umbrella with her three children, hoping to hear from Pritzker.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of huddle
Verb
  • Deyna Castellanos gave Portland the lead in the 58th minute with a curling shot from a tight angle.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But in the first swing of the match, Nakashima botched his first serve, and on his second, Shelton sent a booming 97 mph lefty forehand down the line that curled into the court to earn the break.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of curl
Verb
  • My husband walked into the room and winced as one of the women changed into a perfect re-creation of an American Girl–doll outfit (very theater kid, not his thing).
    — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Today, hardly anyone winces at its many iterations, from teeny-weeny bikini to the tankini in dots large or small.
    — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 24 July 2026
Definition of wince
Noun
  • Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
  • Numbers might be up, but frowns are also up.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
Definition of frown

Browse Nearby Words

squiggling
squinch
squinched
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Cite this Entry

“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on squinch

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squinch

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