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Definitions

grimace

[grim-uhs, gri-meys] / ˈgrɪm əs, grɪˈmeɪs /
NOUN
scowling facial expression
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When Australia's Lucas Herbert missed a five-foot par putt on the last, there was a grimace from him and a groan from the galleries.

From BBC Jul. 17, 2026

For Americans who grimace at the thought of “big government,” this distanced Social Security from public assistance or welfare.

From MarketWatch Apr. 30, 2026

Three portable toilets in the west parking lot were so full that a woman repeatedly opened and closed each door with a grimace and then walked away.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 9, 2025

“I think that smile, it wasn’t like a — it was like an ‘ooh’, you know, like, one of those,” Cunningham said, making a grimace.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 20, 2025

With a grimace, Dalton says, “You were right, bro. You won the bet. Let’s kick this off with your poppy song.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Wizened and creased, with a hoop the size of a quarter dangling in his left ear, he relies on gestures—shrugs, grimaces, guffaws—to flesh out responses that lean terse.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 6, 2026

He rolls his eyes at the town’s unquestioning belief in ghost stories and grimaces at all the visible evidence of how behind the times the town is.

From Salon Jun. 18, 2026

“There was a push for us to stop having strings in our music,” grimaces Chatto.

From BBC Aug. 20, 2024

The nearly photorealistic face of Senua, the unconventional hero of this 10th-century revenge tale, as she grimaces with every sinew taut, her veins bulging.

From New York Times May 20, 2024

Adam runs a hand through his blond waves and grimaces.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Stephen Street, a 63-year-old longtime San Franciscan and Marina resident, saw the mock-ups for the development and grimaced.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 3, 2026

The 77-year-old king grimaced in mock embarrassment as Trump turned to look at him, then waved as if to say carry on -- which Trump did.

From Barron's Apr. 28, 2026

But that didn’t stop Team USA from trying out a stand-up-and-salute shtick as a collection of America’s finest players grimaced their way through the recent World Baseball Classic.

From Salon Mar. 18, 2026

In a hospital in central Damascus, we were introduced to 43-year-old Imad Jamal, who grimaced in pain at each touch from his mother who was tending to him at his bedside.

From BBC Dec. 14, 2024

I sipped my soup with the hairs in it because Mandy had said to, even though I grimaced at the soup and at Mandy’s retreating back.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine

A flurry in the eighth backed Hrgovic on to the ropes and had him in trouble, but Itauma was grimacing between exchanges and looking increasingly spent.

From BBC Aug. 29, 2026

Just last week, the actress shared a mirror selfie in which she could be seen showing off her growing baby bump, pulling up her black shirt to flaunt her stomach, while grimacing at the camera.

From MarketWatch Aug. 11, 2026

The Lakers were down by nine when Doncic departed, rubbing the back of his left thigh and grimacing in discomfort and clear frustration.

From Barron's Feb. 6, 2026

In the top of the ninth, closer Tanner Scott left the game alongside a trainer after walking one batter, hitting another and then spiking a slider that left him grimacing.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 22, 2025

He flexed his wounded hand, grimacing, then pulled his glove on and rose.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin




Vocabulary lists containing grimace


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