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
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During the Civil War, popular lithographs depicted Lincoln next to the crouching Black man, and army-camp photographers posed white Union soldiers beside Black men in a similar arrangement.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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Another photo captures the soon-to-be bride and groom crouching down on the sand with their two pet dogs.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Through immersive sound, travel, and intimate interviews, Baudelaire journeys from Benin to Haiti and across the Haitian diaspora to uncover the true story of Vodou — a story of resistance, faith, and cultural survival that’s often been distorted by fear and colonial mythmaking.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
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This also distorts the definition of what success for these programs would look like.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While Western private equity might flinch at short-term volatility, Gulf funds are designed to absorb shocks and hold conviction assets through disruption.—
Winston Ma,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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Hutson did not flinch and impacted the game both offensively and defensively, despite being kept off the scoresheet.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And Ahmed, with his fearful eyes and tense grimace, makes for a compellingly sad and isolated figure.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
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Charlie Lindgren’s grimace was evident behind his mask.—
Bailey Johnson,
Washington Post,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The government plane that had been slated to carry the other lead negotiators, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had been redirected to Washington so all three could huddle at the White House with the president and his other top advisers.—
Rachel Scott,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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The boiler is broken, so Kuhner huddles by a small space heater in his office in the winter.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her platinum blonde hair was chopped into a chin-grazing cut that was curled under at the ends to give a voluminous appearance.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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Threes while curling off screens or taking handoffs from teammates are routine for the NBA’s leading three-point shooter.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Internally, some employees winced as the prices of some chips surpassed $7.—
Wire TBD,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Turning up the music in get car so that her daughter won’t hear, the grandmother gets out the car, takes a revolver out of her bag, and wincing and turning away, shoots the animal in the head.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
-
Carpenter responded with a quizzical frown.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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