Rictus
noun
A fixed or unnatural grin or smile.
A rictus of pain spread across his face as the bullet ripped through his shoulder.
Often appears as...
- rictus of pain
- rictus grin
noun
The gape of a bird's mouth.
The baby bird opened its rictus waiting to be fed.
Often appears as...
- bird's rictus
- open rictus
noun
A fixed or unnatural grin or smile.
A rictus of pain spread across his face as the bullet ripped through his shoulder.
Often appears as...
- rictus of pain
- rictus grin
noun
The gape of a bird's mouth.
The baby bird opened its rictus waiting to be fed.
Often appears as...
- bird's rictus
- open rictus
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Rictus often indicates a grim or forced situation, not a genuine smile.
After receiving criticism, she managed only a rictus.
Pro Tip 2/3Masking Emotion
A rictus can be used to hide true feelings, giving nothing away.
His rictus betrayed nothing of the turmoil within.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity
Rictus emphasizes the intensity of an emotion, often discomfort or distress.
His face was locked in a rictus of horror.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Rictus often indicates a grim or forced situation, not a genuine smile.
After receiving criticism, she managed only a rictus.
Pro Tip 2/3Masking Emotion
A rictus can be used to hide true feelings, giving nothing away.
His rictus betrayed nothing of the turmoil within.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity
Rictus emphasizes the intensity of an emotion, often discomfort or distress.
His face was locked in a rictus of horror.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Tone
Rictus often indicates a grim or forced situation, not a genuine smile.
After receiving criticism, she managed only a rictus.
Pro Tip 2/3Masking Emotion
A rictus can be used to hide true feelings, giving nothing away.
His rictus betrayed nothing of the turmoil within.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity
Rictus emphasizes the intensity of an emotion, often discomfort or distress.
His face was locked in a rictus of horror.
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Quote examples
John Niven
Scottish Author
It's tough being a dictator, but I've always thought it must be tougher being a hanger-on to a dictator. The late nights spent listening to his crazed ranting, the weary rictus grin from smiling at bad jokes, the draining knowledge that one misjudged comment could land you on the chopping block.
Quote examples
John Niven
Scottish Author
It's tough being a dictator, but I've always thought it must be tougher being a hanger-on to a dictator. The late nights spent listening to his crazed ranting, the weary rictus grin from smiling at bad jokes, the draining knowledge that one misjudged comment could land you on the chopping block.
Example 1 of 1
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