grimace
/ˈɡrɪməs
/ /ɡrɪˈmeɪs /noun
An ugly, twisted expression on a person’s face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement: she gave a grimace of pain...
- Adam's mouth was twisted into something between a smile and a grimace of pain.
- Stoic and economical in his movements, expressing emotional pain through tight-lipped grimaces and squinty eyes, Mortenson is the perfect cowboy hero.
- There was a brief moment where he could not hide his wince, his small grimace of pain.
Synonyms
scowl, frown, sneer, pout, moue, wince, distorted expression;
face, wry face
verb [no object]
Make a grimace: I sipped the coffee and grimaced...
- Morgan beamed and reached for his coffee, grimacing as he took a small sip.
- She sipped her coffee, grimacing at the taste.
- After a moment, she pulled her mouth away from his, grimacing and protesting.
Synonyms
scowl, frown, sneer, pout, wince, glower, lour;
make a face, make faces, pull a face;
British gurn
Derivatives
grimacer
- Among the grimacers, one woman from Iowa noticed that I was looking at her and flushed red in the face.
- ‘The Year of Monkey is considered a year of difficulties and worry by elderly, superstitious folks because the monkey is a grimacer,’ said Hoang An, a 46 year-old Hanoi businessman.
- Both grimacers are converts to the latest twist in isometric exercises, which have been used increasingly in the past decade as a means of strengthening muscles by making them push, pull and strain.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from French, from Spanish grimazo 'caricature', from grima 'fright'.
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