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wince

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word wince distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of wince are blench, flinch, quail, recoil, and shrink. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

When would blench be a good substitute for wince?

In some situations, the words blench and wince are roughly equivalent. However, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

When might flinch be a better fit than wince?

While the synonyms flinch and wince are close in meaning, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

Where would quail be a reasonable alternative to wince?

The meanings of quail and wince largely overlap; however, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

When can recoil be used instead of wince?

Although the words recoil and wince have much in common, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When is it sensible to use shrink instead of wince?

The words shrink and wince can be used in similar contexts, but shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

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 wince
Verb
Some of the players around the vice president winced. Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 Just look at what could’ve been the game-winning 3-pointer: The entire nation, minus Gator fans, winced at that. Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025 City officials winced at the thought of heavy military equipment rolling on streets. Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025 Cena later handed that watch over to Scott, who entered the fray and started unwinding on Rhodes; wrestling fans on social media are debating whether Scott made actual (and accidental) contact with the bloodied Rhodes, who seemed to genuinely wince after Scott’s punches. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wince
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wince
Verb
  • Tamar Braxton has never been one to flinch at the truth.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 5 May 2025
  • But rookie Gwyneth Philips hasn’t flinched in Maschmeyer’s absence.
    Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In a clip shared by Variety, Stone noticed and pointed to a bee flying just overhead, and subsequently stopped posing to recoil with a laugh.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 17 May 2025
  • That heartbreak reverberated across the Charlotte region as arts and culture groups recoiled at the cuts and what might come next.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Shuffling feet, frowns or darting eyes signal discomfort and anxiety.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Below are some of the stocks JPMorgan frowns on: Vaccine maker Novavax is rated underweight by JPMorgan analysts.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Over the past few years, generational warfare has only ramped up—so much so that it’s become boring to even reference: Gen Z hating on millennials for being cringe, millennials hating on Gen Z for being puritanical, and everyone hating on boomers for being, well, boomers.
    Daisy Jones, Vogue, 3 May 2025
  • Even for some Republicans who would like to see more babies and larger families, the whole pro-natalist push is cringe in a bad way.
    Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • That whoop-ass machine is played with a fierce scowl by MMA fighter Michelle Waterson.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In body and scowl, Paquita radiated like the Disney villain Ursula — a character also inspired by a drag queen, famed actor and performer Divine — but in spirit and heart was far from the sea-dwelling witch who stole an innocent mermaid’s voice.
    Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Roxy doesn't take her eyes from the screen, and when Aishah turns the camera to show what's happening in the movie, Roxy can be heard making a noise somewhere between a growl and a whine.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The Republican panelist, 53, dramatically swooned into the back of her chair after Jordan, 38, chose to lean forward and give her his best vampiric growl while discussing the Prohibition-era vampire horror film on Monday.
    Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • 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, 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

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Cite this Entry

“Wince.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wince. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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