Grimaced

To grimace means to contort the face, often involuntarily, to express pain, disgust, disapproval, or discomfort. It's a facial expression characterized by twisting the mouth, wrinkling the nose, and sometimes tightening the eyes. The act of grimacing typically reflects an internal emotional state triggered by an unpleasant stimulus, whether physical or emotional. It can range from a slight pulling of the lip to a full-blown distortion of the face. Grimacing can be a universal sign of negative emotions, understood across cultures, and a form of non-verbal communication that often conveys feelings more powerfully than words.

Grimaced meaning with examples

• The child grimaced as the doctor administered the injection. The sharp prick of the needle brought a flood of tears and a visible distortion of the little boy's face as he recoiled. His face scrunched up, communicating the sudden discomfort and surprise he felt from the sudden pain in his arm.
• He grimaced after taking a bite of the extremely sour lemon. His eyes squeezed shut, and his lips twisted into a distorted shape as he processed the tart flavor. It was an immediate reaction, a physical representation of the shock his taste buds encountered, and his companion laughed.
• She grimaced when she heard the politician's hateful statement. Her expression was one of deep distaste, a visible sign of her disagreement and disgust. The information provoked such a sharp reaction that she showed her feelings for the other to see.
• I grimaced as I remembered my most embarrassing moment. Even years later, the thought of my mistake caused me to involuntarily twist my mouth and tense my cheeks. My memory of the experience still brought a slight, involuntary physical reaction.