as in flinches
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
winced at the movie's graphic depiction of combat injuries
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Recent Examples of winces
Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Lina winces at the sound of Jaya munching on an apple, made worse by the static on the line.
—Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bryan winces after weighing in at 597 lbs.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
When the crowd begins hooting in response, Nanjiani winces.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
Lina winces at the sound of Jaya munching on an apple, made worse by the static on the line.
—Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winces
Verb
-
Cash flinches from this cascade of consequences.—
Gideon Leek,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Sheinbaum quickly moves away and visibly flinches as the man attempts to put his arm around her.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But the Oscar-winning filmmaker recoils at being called a visionary.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Some former students, including Mamdani, who signed up for Kagan’s 12th-grade AP World History class, have referred to themselves as Kaganites, a term Kagan literally recoils from.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Those surrounding the bride stood up and began clapping, their frowns shifting to wide smiles.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
If only humans kept their expressions to cartoonishly clear frowns and smiles.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Payton cringes at the mention of a sophomore slump, that defenses will figure out Nix.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
One of the series’ most creative elements is the variety of scowls Graham deploys while arguing with Hezekiah, Mary, or his younger brother, Treacle (James Nelson-Joyce), a pragmatic family man who represents everything Sugar’s life could have been if he weren’t filled with so much self-loathing.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The squalane superstar makes pouts smoother, shinier, and plumper over time, which are all desirable adjectives in context of being as camera-ready as ever.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
And now, Mikayla is grumpy, and Jace pouts on a hay bale.—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Despite headwinds like tariffs, supply chain snarls and higher costs for solar panels and other components, Fishman said, the initiative is having an impact.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
And, two, worldwide supply chain snarls also stemming from the pandemic.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Garage cabinets are very similar to kitchen cabinets as there are uppers and lowers or units with several tall cabinets in a row.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
1 Jan. 2026
-
When the Fed cuts rates, the prime rate lowers, too, and the interest rate on that credit card debt is likely to follow within a billing cycle or two.—
Jessica Dickler,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winces. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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