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
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.
—
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Michelle Yeoh is wincing at the thought of collecting her honorary Golden Bear here in Berlin.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
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
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
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Michelle Yeoh is wincing at the thought of collecting her honorary Golden Bear here in Berlin.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wincing
Verb
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The Alpha Wave acquisition suggests the Gulf’s biggest dealmakers aren’t flinching at opportunities in the US or being slowed by the war in Iran.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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Freeny absorbed the impact like Marvin Hagler, hardly flinching and brushing it off.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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In it, her fellow students can be seen gasping, covering their faces and cringing.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
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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 12 Mar. 2026.
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