wince 1 of 2

verb

ˈwin(t)s How to pronounce wince (audio)
Definition of wincenext
as in to flinch
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust winced at the movie's graphic depiction of combat injuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wince

2 of 2

noun

as in flinch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word wince distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of wince are blench, flinch, quail, recoil, and shrink. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

When would blench be a good substitute for wince?

In some situations, the words blench and wince are roughly equivalent. However, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

When might flinch be a better fit than wince?

While the synonyms flinch and wince are close in meaning, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

Where would quail be a reasonable alternative to wince?

The meanings of quail and wince largely overlap; however, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

When can recoil be used instead of wince?

Although the words recoil and wince have much in common, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When is it sensible to use shrink instead of wince?

The words shrink and wince can be used in similar contexts, but shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wince
Verb
As the trailer depicts, the shame of his past follows him into Thunderbolts*, with the character wincing over bad press about him in the newspaper. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 May 2025 Fans should be ready to wince as the 2025 Twins make hit-by-pitch history. —Aaron Gleeman, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025 Its owner Lorenzo Porro winced when the conversation turned to a looming trade war. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2025 Some of the players around the vice president winced. —Will Weissert, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wince
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wince
  1. flinch
  2. grimace
  3. recoil
  4. frown
  5. cringe
  6. scowl
  7. growl
  8. moue
Verb
  • Amid tension over OpenAI’s corporate structure, the organization’s corporate development hasn’t so much as flinched.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
  • Ariane’s first instinctive reaction to her mother’s extended hand is to flinch.
    — Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Definition of flinch
Noun
  • Throughout baseball history, such collisions have been met mostly with grimaces and shrugs.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of grimace
Verb
  • Advertisement Advertisement Macron briefly recoils, turns his head, and then smiles and waves at the press.
    — Solcyré Burga, Time, 26 May 2025
  • There’s no doubt that Trump and congressional Republicans recoil at the left-wing slant of PBS and NPR.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025
Definition of recoil
Noun
  • Shuffling feet, frowns or darting eyes signal discomfort and anxiety.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Below are some of the stocks JPMorgan frowns on: Vaccine maker Novavax is rated underweight by JPMorgan analysts.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of frown
Verb
  • Valerie often allowed her vanity and delusion to stand in her way, but also has a certain purity in her desire for mainstream success; viewers on the show’s wavelength might alternately cringe, laugh and feel deeply for her over the course of just a few minutes.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 5 June 2025
  • Come laugh, cringe, and cry through the unfiltered mess no one warned you about.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 June 2025
Definition of cringe
Noun
  • Rossini has replaced disdain with dedication and swapped out scowls for smiles.
    — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
  • That whoop-ass machine is played with a fierce scowl by MMA fighter Michelle Waterson.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of scowl
Noun
  • One witness tried to give him a life preserver, and another tried to speak with him but received a growl in response, according to the sheriff.
    — Alex Sundby May 26, CBS News, 26 May 2025
  • Stalking Lincoln Center in a pair of combat boots, Cheyenne speaks her mind in a low growl, fires every male dance partner NYMB artistic director Jack McMillan (Luke Kirby) has to offer, and sleeps with her new collaborator on Jack’s couch.
    — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 13 May 2025
Definition of growl
Noun
  • In her trademark cat-eye glasses, with her bitter-lemon moue, Hoffman, as Moth, is comedy just standing there; Harada, as Mustardseed, a warmth machine.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2021
  • Not just any moue, either, but a supermoue—a whole cultural attitude distilled into a single boffff.
    — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2020
Definition of moue

Browse Nearby Words

win (back)
wince
winced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wince.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wince. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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