winced
Americanverb
Etymology
Origin of winced
First recorded in 1630–40; winc(e) 1 ( def. ) + -ed 1 ( def. ) for the past tense; winc(e) 1 ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. ) for the past participle
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.
Stepping into the arcade, he winced as he accidentally bumped into someone.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
Which is how it was sold to the private-pilot world, which winced at the mandate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
Figueroa winced, smiled and fired back to the body.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026
The ensuing sound of the collision's initial impact was so loud that jurors winced after being warned to decrease the volume on their listening devices.
From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026
I clapped my hands over my ears and winced, and Tarrypin moaned.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
