Hunched

In a hunched posture, the back is curved forward, and the shoulders are raised and often rounded. This position can be adopted due to various factors, including physical discomfort, cold, fear, or a deliberate attempt to appear smaller or less threatening. It often implies a lack of confidence, a feeling of being burdened, or a state of concentration. The degree of hunching can vary, from a slight stoop to a severe curvature of the spine. It reflects a posture of withdrawal, vulnerability, or introspection, reflecting the physical state of the subject and the subjects emotional/mental state.

Hunched meaning with examples

• The elderly woman, hunched over her walking stick, slowly made her way down the cobblestone street. Her shoulders were rounded, and her gaze was fixed on the ground, the weight of her years visibly etched onto her posture. It showed years of hardship, she seemed to be in deep contemplation.
• A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she hunched her shoulders, pulling her thin coat tighter around herself. The biting wind whipped through the alleyway, and she wished desperately for the warmth of home.
• The suspect, hunched low in the interrogation room chair, avoided eye contact. His body language screamed guilt and apprehension, his hunched posture a clear sign of his discomfort.
• Lost in thought, the artist hunched over his canvas, his brow furrowed in concentration. His posture reflected his intense focus, the lines on the painting gradually coming into form.
• Defeated and disheartened, he hunched his shoulders and slowly walked away, abandoning his dreams. The loss and the way it crushed him, a clear indication of his surrender. All was lost.