wince

¹

[ wins ]

verb (used without object)

, winced, winc·ing.

1. to draw back or tense the body, as from pain or from a blow; start; flinch.

   Synonyms: quail, blench

noun

1. a wincing or shrinking movement; a slight start.

wince

²

[ wins ]

noun

1. winch ¹( def 4 ).

wince

¹

/ wɪns /

verb

1. intr to start slightly, as with sudden pain; flinch

noun

1. the act of wincing

wince

²

/ wɪns /

noun

1. a roller for transferring pieces of cloth between dyeing vats

Derived Forms

• ˈwincer, noun

Other Words From

• winc·er noun
• winc·ing·ly adverb
• winc·ing·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wince¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English winsen, variant of winchen, wenchen “to kick,” from unrecorded Anglo-French wenc(h)ier, Old French guenc(h)ier, from Germanic; wench, winch ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of wince¹

C18 (earlier (C13) meaning: to kick): via Old French wencier, guenchir to avoid, from Germanic; compare Old Saxon wenkian, Old High German wenken

Origin of wince²

C17: variant of winch

Synonym Study

Wince, recoil, shrink, quail all mean to draw back from what is dangerous, fearsome, difficult, threatening, or unpleasant. Wince suggests an involuntary contraction of the facial features triggered by pain, embarrassment, or a sense of revulsion: to wince as a needle pierces the skin; to wince at coarse language. Recoil denotes a physical movement away from something disgusting or shocking or a similar psychological shutting out or avoidance: to recoil from contact with a slimy surface; to recoil at the squalor and misery of the slum. Shrink may imply a fastidious or scrupulous avoidance of the distasteful or it may suggest cowardly withdrawal from what is feared: to shrink from confessing a crime; to shrink from going into battle. Quail suggests a loss of heart or courage in the face of danger or difficulty; it sometimes suggests trembling or other manifestations of physical disturbance: to quail before an angry mob.

Example Sentences

Memphis begins to pop up in the later chapters, and I wince at every mention because I know that is where the story will end.

From The Daily Beast

The errant flashes of light in your brain depicting this possibility are strong enough to make you wince and want to cry.

From The Daily Beast

One may well wince with dread at the thought of it going out.

From The Daily Beast

“Hey, muffins,” he calls to his children, with a “wince of mortification” at the whole scene.

From The Daily Beast

There was a clicking sound as the cuffs went back on, but not tight enough to make him wince.

From The Daily Beast

This talk had been on that very day before, while they sat impatiently awaiting her arrival, and it had made John Chester wince.

From Project Gutenberg

Poynter uttered a sneering laugh, which made Heath wince, and turn upon him wrathfully.

From Project Gutenberg

He paused at that, for he saw his father wince at the picture like a man physically struck; and again there was silence.

From Project Gutenberg

He had got under the armor of his enemy at last, and he could feel him wince and writhe at each thrust that he drove home.

From Project Gutenberg

"Peleg, you're a sight for tired optics," said Tom, giving the man's hand a squeeze that made him wince.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• back off
• blanch
• cower
• cringe
• flinch
• grimace
• recoil