wince
1- to draw back or tense the body, as from pain or from a blow; start; flinch.
- a wincing or shrinking movement; a slight start.
Origin of wince
1Synonyms for wince
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
wince
2Related Words for wince
blanch, cower, flinch, recoil, grimace, cringe, dodge, swerve, turn, shy, start, blench, duck, quail, shrink, jibExamples from the Web for wince
Contemporary Examples of wince
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.
The errant flashes of light in your brain depicting this possibility are strong enough to make you wince and want to cry.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in IraqNathan Bradley Bethea
August 31, 2014
“Hey, muffins,” he calls to his children, with a “wince of mortification” at the whole scene.
There was a clicking sound as the cuffs went back on, but not tight enough to make him wince.
Afterward, ABC News reported that Ryan appeared to “wince” as he stood behind his running mate.
Historical Examples of wince
Because she saw him wince when she mentioned Christine, her ill temper increased.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
To talk to this woman of her mother made her wince, but it had to be done.
Quaint CourtshipsVarious
That ball grazed her tail, but she is too old a soldier to wince at trifles.
Micah ClarkeArthur Conan Doyle
How the friends of darkness, how the demons must wince and tremble.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863Adam Gurowski
He talked of renunciation, but it was with an anguish so keen as to make me wince for him who felt it.
The First ViolinJessie Fothergill
wince
1- (intr) to start slightly, as with sudden pain; flinch
- the act of wincing
Word Origin for wince
wince
2- a roller for transferring pieces of cloth between dyeing vats
Word Origin for wince
Word Origin and History for wince
early 13c., winch, probably from Old North French *wenchier (in Old French guenchir "to turn aside, avoid"), from Frankish *wenkjan, from Proto-Germanic *wankjan (cf. Old High German wankon "to stagger, totter," Old Norse vakka "to stray, hover;" see wink). Originally of horses. Modern form is attested from late 13c. Related: Winced; wincing.