rictus

[ rik-tuhs ]

noun

, plural ric·tus, ric·tus·es.

1. the gape of the mouth of a bird.
2. the gaping or opening of the mouth.

rictus

/ ˈrɪktəs /

noun

1. the gap or cleft of an open mouth or beak
2. a fixed or unnatural grin or grimace, as in horror or death

Derived Forms

• ˈrictal, adjective

Other Words From

• rictal adjective
• sub·rictal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rictus¹

1750–60; < Latin: wide-open mouth, equivalent to rig-, variant stem of ringī to open the mouth wide + -tus suffix of v. action.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rictus¹

C18: from Latin, from ringī to gape

Example Sentences

Quayle’s stricken look — a rictus of shock and humiliation — spoke to the devastation of the rejoinder after which, it’s fair to say, his callow image never fully faded.

From Los Angeles Times

The heartbreaking rictus of hurt on Angie’s fallen face at the ceremony, only one of many across Patra’s moving performance, says it all: a combination of disillusionment at the separation she’s feeling from a family she thought she knew and shame for not being able to honor the wishes of her loved one.

From Los Angeles Times

Coverage of his personal appearances focused on his obvious discomfort in meeting with strangers and his fruitless efforts to laugh or even crack a smile, which tended to produce only a hideous facial rictus.

From Los Angeles Times

It doesn’t take much for clowns to be creepy — the unnatural colors and rictus grins do the heavy lifting — an effect that’s been exploited by schlock horror for eons.

From New York Times

Wong’s quietly seething performance as Amy — complete with a rictus grin and an armor-like wardrobe of shapeless neutrals — marks a departure for her, a comedian known for bawdy stand-up specials including “Baby Cobra” and “Hard Knock Wife” and the breezy rom-com “Always Be My Maybe.”

From Los Angeles Times