: a facial expression usually of disgust, disapproval, or pain
a grimace of hate and rage
grimacer
noun
grimaced; grimacing
: to distort one's face in an expression usually of pain, disgust, or disapproval
Grimacing slightly, he runs his finger over the back of his heel, where a deep … fissure has opened inside a callus.—
Chris Ballard
Chris BallardMy father shifted his weight and grimaced. The sheet slid off his injured leg, the calf swollen, purple as a plum …—Bernard Cooper
Bernard CooperExamples of grimace in a Sentence
Noun
The patient made a painful grimace as the doctor examined his wound.
he made a grimace when he tasted the medicine
Verb
playgoers grimaced at the actor's terrible attempt at a French accent
Recent Examples on the Web
Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Per the season's sneak peek, this year's voyage pairs steamy trysts among the crew with some grimace-worthy incidents, from jellyfish sightings and jet ski accidents (and what looks to be a lone charter guest floating out to sea on a raft).
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Twenty-three games are too soon to declare anything, but Coleman already has a grimacing reputation to shake.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grimace
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Noun
Thomas turned around and squeezed DeChambeau’s leg with anxiety, his face in a nervous grimace.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Per the season's sneak peek, this year's voyage pairs steamy trysts among the crew with some grimace-worthy incidents, from jellyfish sightings and jet ski accidents (and what looks to be a lone charter guest floating out to sea on a raft).
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
After taking a fastball on the knee in the fifth game of the series, outfield veteran George Springer returned to the starting lineup on Sunday and was noticeably limping and grimacing during his at-bats.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025
Twenty-three games are too soon to declare anything, but Coleman already has a grimacing reputation to shake.
—Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grimace
Cite this Entry
“Grimace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grimace. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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