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
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
Worthy was in immediate pain on the turf and could be seen on the Chiefs' sideline hanging his right shoulder down and wincing.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Sideline reporter Stacey Dales said on the YouTube broadcast that Worthy was wincing in pain and went to the X-ray room.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
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
Worthy was in immediate pain on the turf and could be seen on the Chiefs' sideline hanging his right shoulder down and wincing.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Sideline reporter Stacey Dales said on the YouTube broadcast that Worthy was wincing in pain and went to the X-ray room.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wincing
Verb
-
Ross passed the day's examination with flying colors, barely flinching at the rubber chicken.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Skubal, apparently flinching with the noise, balked for only the second time in his career.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Americans are recoiling from the Democratic Party, and even in blue states like Colorado, Democrats are feeling the burn.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
-
And the supporters who responded to his complaints about overzealous Democrats aren’t recoiling.—
Jonathan J. Cooper,
Twin Cities,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Bills can be seen visibly cringing in both clips as the two dancers fall to the ground.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Pub purists, meanwhile, are cringing.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wincing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wincing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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