noun
grimace
GRIHM-uhs
noun
1
A twisted facial expression, usually showing pain, disgust, or discomfort.
"He winced with a grimace as the nurse cleaned the wound."
verb
1
To twist one's face to express pain, distaste, or discomfort.
"She grimaced at the bitter taste of the medicine."
"He grimaced every time he put weight on his sprained ankle."
How to Use Grimace
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA screwed-up facial expression showing pain or disgust, or the act of making one.
Common pairings
grimace in pain
a pained grimace
grimace at the taste
Word Forms
grimaced past tense, grimaces plural, grimaces singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “grimace”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He winced with a _____ as the nurse cleaned the wound.
Etymology
From French grimace, ultimately from a Frankish word for "mask" — the same root that gives us "grime," since a distorted face was once likened to a mask.