wince
1 Americanverb (used without object)
noun
noun
verb
noun
noun
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
- wincer noun
- wincingly adverb
- wincingness noun
Etymology
Origin of wince
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
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.
Herbert was sacked five times by the Texans, and he appeared to be wincing in pain after taking a hit in the first half.
From Los Angeles Times
At least he was wincing and favoring that hand as he walked off the field, but it didn’t sideline him.
From Los Angeles Times
Almost instantly, you might wince, make a face, or even pull your own hand away.
From Science Daily
As Nancy spoke, it was hard to avoid wincing and wincing and wincing again.
From BBC
I grab my head, wincing—that really hurt—and turn to see Ms. Wilson grabbing Gene by the arm.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
