as in flinching
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 wincing
Wind roared through the open doorway and into the vestibule where I was pressed against the side, wincing at the noise.
—
Monisha Rajesh, Outside, 9 Dec. 2025
The actress was shown wincing in pain before being escorted out of the ballroom on a stretcher into an ambulance.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Perhaps tearing originally grew out of a physiological reflex that restored moisture to the eyes and nasal passages after they had been dried out by the pressure of wincing or the hyperventilation of arousal.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Democrats – and some Republicans – are wincing at the idea that millions of people soon may not be able to afford health insurance.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Immediately, Moore was on the ground and wincing in pain.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Not to mention wincing in pain any time another museum donation gets shipped off.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Aramayo is excellent in the role, easily transversing between John’s pain and confusion and a wincing humor about the whole situation.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Monisha Rajesh, Outside, 9 Dec. 2025
The actress was shown wincing in pain before being escorted out of the ballroom on a stretcher into an ambulance.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
In that moment, Dupree involuntarily punches him and the pair go quiet as Dooley cusses and bends over wincing in pain.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Perhaps tearing originally grew out of a physiological reflex that restored moisture to the eyes and nasal passages after they had been dried out by the pressure of wincing or the hyperventilation of arousal.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Democrats – and some Republicans – are wincing at the idea that millions of people soon may not be able to afford health insurance.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Immediately, Moore was on the ground and wincing in pain.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Not to mention wincing in pain any time another museum donation gets shipped off.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Aramayo is excellent in the role, easily transversing between John’s pain and confusion and a wincing humor about the whole situation.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wincing
Verb
-
In this Tudor renovation, designer Barrie Benson combined 10 different textiles and prints in a single, orderly viewpoint without flinching.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
29 Dec. 2025
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Human reflexes naturally protect the eyes; blinking, tearing, and flinching are some of the fastest human reflexes.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
His most intense fans may revel in his displays of dominance, but his least attached supporters—the ones who turned him from a loser in 2020 to a winner in 2024—are recoiling.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In it, her fellow students can be seen gasping, covering their faces and cringing.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
-
Encouraged to see Jones sorta respond, Mackie kept babbling on and on and on about his dad, unaware that everyone else in the room was cringing.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wincing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wincing. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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