grimacing

[ grim-uhs-ing, gri-mey-sing ]

adjective

1. making or causing a facial expression, often ugly or contorted, that indicates disapproval, pain, disgust, etc.:

   To the grimacing dissatisfaction of coffee drinkers, pranksters had put salt in the sugar bowl.

noun

1. the act of making a facial expression that indicates disapproval, pain, disgust, etc.:

   Incoming patients can be made anxious by the grimacing of other patients waiting to be seen.

Other Words From

• grim·ac·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grimacing¹

First recorded in 1740–50; grimace ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective; grimace ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun

Example Sentences

Squinting and grimacing at times as Harris castigated him, Trump appeared intent on answering even the slightest provocations.

From Los Angeles Times

Second seed Sabalenka was seen grimacing and pointing to her stomach as she talked to medical staff in the middle of the first set.

From BBC

We engage in this back-and-forth every year, whenever the season changes, me twirling around in a sundress, her grimacing under a comically large-brimmed hat.

From New York Times

It was a sad display on the whole, with Johnson looking like an eager schoolboy as Trump stood behind him grimacing like a stern headmaster.

From Salon

Moore’s Mary gets to enjoy herself too instead of being limited to grimacing through political marriages to boring wealthy men, which is refreshing.

From Salon

Related Words

• contort
• frown
• scowl
• smirk
• sneer