winces 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wince
as in flinches
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust winced at the movie's graphic depiction of combat injuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

winces

2 of 2

noun

plural of wince
as in grimaces

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 winces
Verb
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 The slot formerly occupied by Milli Vanilli will be taken by a dog whistle, being blown into the microphone very loudly so that everyone winces and covers their ears. — Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 Duncan winces, then again attempts to change the subject. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 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
  1. flinches
  2. grimaces
  3. recoils
  4. frowns
  5. cringes
  6. scowls
  7. pouts
  8. snarls
Verb
  • Warner flinches not about a birthday that is often associated with the beginning of decline.
    — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Advertisement Throughout the narrative, Johnson never flinches in his portrayal of the wreck, unleashing footage of investigators approaching the car and the victims’ families.
    — Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026
Definition of flinches
Noun
  • Back at the team bus, the high fives and handshakes wore grimaces.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 22 July 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
Definition of grimaces
Verb
  • Something in the liberal heart recoils in the face of righteous ruthlessness.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
  • Looking through scans from his first VIBE story from back in 2012, Rocky laughs at first, then immediately recoils.
    — Jeff Ihaza, VIBE.com, 2 June 2026
Definition of recoils
Noun
  • Numbers might be up, but frowns are also up.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 16 June 2026
  • No smiles, no frowns, no fluctuations of body warmth.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
Definition of frowns
Verb
  • Payton cringes at the mention of a sophomore slump, that defenses will figure out Nix.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025
Definition of cringes
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
Definition of scowls
Noun
  • So how, exactly, did these polka-dot pouts make their way onto the mood board?
    — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 25 June 2026
  • Soto’s Marie pouts and squeals with abandon.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Definition of pouts
Noun
  • The state Department of Transportation is scheduled to install temporary three-way stop signs at the intersections during a road project that’s already created mind-numbing traffic snarls and angry and confused drivers.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Be prepared for traffic snarls and multiple security checkpoints.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 14 June 2026
Definition of snarls

Browse Nearby Words

winced
winces
wincing
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Cite this Entry

“Winces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winces. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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