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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of winces
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
The burger contains two one-pound patties, 10 pieces of bacon, two layers of mushrooms (Beard winces at the thought of mushrooms), two layers of blue cheese crumbles and Swiss cheese, mayonnaise, tomato and lettuce.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026
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
-
Lubezki’s camera gets close to the action and never flinches, which underscores Iñarritu’s commitment to excessive mayhem at every turn.—
Eric Kohn,
IndieWire,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Cash flinches from this cascade of consequences.—
Gideon Leek,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And yet, the wry grimaces that followed said the quiet part out loud.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Exhaling occurs when the diaphragm relaxes and the chest recoils.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
There’s a scene in which Frank meets his own idol, an alt-world version of Fred Astaire (played by Gyllenhaal’s brother Jake, who is good at mugging and singing), and vomits his fandom at him until the actor recoils.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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
-
Cheers to hydrated pouts ahead!—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
Visiting is free, and public transit is recommended due to the traffic snarls along the National Mall (especially on the weekend).—
Adele Chapin,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As Ross, Martin’s friend and confidante, Kevin Singer has the insinuating righteousness of a slinky cat, his line readings all mews and snarls.—
Steven Winn,
San Francisco Chronicle,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Winces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winces. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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