frown

While many HR pros frown on such behavior, some, parents themselves, told me they could understand the impulse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Making "Year of the Horse" stuffed toys in a workshop, an employee accidentally stitched the festive foal's mouth on upside-down -- turning its cheerful expression into a gloomy frown.

From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026

Even if you want to cry when you walk in the door, turn that frown upside down and greet your host with a warm hug and a smile.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 17, 2026

“I like to turn that frown into a smile.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2025

"But I had to use all my money to buy stuff like pizzas and plastic bracelets," Toby said with a frown.

From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene

Dogs are exceptionally skilled at reading human emotions, from smiles and laughter to frowns and tears.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

On a recent day off from making lattes and Frappuccinos, Starbucks barista Bridget Baron came into work to do something the company usually frowns upon: posting an on-the-job TikTok.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 2, 2025

And generally, the law frowns on making a person’s status—rather than their actions—the basis of a crime or a lawsuit.

From Slate ● May 13, 2024

The early part of the game featured plenty of frowns and not much chanting as Senegal tested the England defence.

From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2022

When he frowns like he’s completely stumped, I feel my cheeks heat up.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

They dress up, braid their hair in a special way and are free to dance and play together outside, something which is traditionally frowned upon at other times of the year.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Henderson said he only realized the solicitation he’d been asked to do might be frowned upon after Orchid told him as much at their meal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

In the past, administrators "frowned upon trade schools, they wanted to steer everybody to go to college."

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

Many companies have already been in their unofficial “quiet period” for weeks so even subtle messages to the investor community are frowned upon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

Ben, she just frowned and said, “Now? He thinks you should do it now? Why?”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

In the troika of major figures in the Russian Revolution, Trotsky stood for ideas and Stalin represented power; their predecessor, Vladimir Lenin, had fused the two values as the frowning avatar of communist leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

She grinned as she explained that some sculptures of famed Buddhist monk Ji Gong even showed him smiling on one side of his face and frowning on the other.

From Barron's ● Jan. 19, 2026

"He just kinda crept up on the guy and was looming over his shoulder and frowning at him while the guy was speaking."

From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2024

One chilling video from his inauguration caught her smiling at her husband and then frowning as soon as he turned his back.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2024

Auntie stopped stitching long enough to look up at me, frowning.

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