Wince
verb
To quickly make a small movement with your face or body as if something is causing you pain or discomfort.
I winced when the dentist started drilling.
Often appears as...
- wince in pain
- wince at the thought
verb
To show that you dislike something or that it makes you feel embarrassed, usually through a facial expression.
He winced at her off-color joke.
Often appears as...
- wince at the idea
- wince at the sight
verb
To quickly make a small movement with your face or body as if something is causing you pain or discomfort.
I winced when the dentist started drilling.
Often appears as...
- wince in pain
- wince at the thought
verb
To show that you dislike something or that it makes you feel embarrassed, usually through a facial expression.
He winced at her off-color joke.
Often appears as...
- wince at the idea
- wince at the sight
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Reaction
Wince often implies a controlled, subtle reaction to avoid showing full discomfort.
During the rough hike, she winced but kept quiet so as not to worry others.
Pro Tip 2/3Brief Moment
A wince is usually quick and immediately noticeable, not a prolonged gesture.
He winced at the splash of cold water but quickly regained composure.
Pro Tip 3/3Physically Triggered
Wince usually relates to a physical cause, like pain or discomfort, not emotional pain.
She winced when she stepped on the sharp stone.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Reaction
Wince often implies a controlled, subtle reaction to avoid showing full discomfort.
During the rough hike, she winced but kept quiet so as not to worry others.
Pro Tip 2/3Brief Moment
A wince is usually quick and immediately noticeable, not a prolonged gesture.
He winced at the splash of cold water but quickly regained composure.
Pro Tip 3/3Physically Triggered
Wince usually relates to a physical cause, like pain or discomfort, not emotional pain.
She winced when she stepped on the sharp stone.
Pro Tip 1/3Subtle Reaction
Wince often implies a controlled, subtle reaction to avoid showing full discomfort.
During the rough hike, she winced but kept quiet so as not to worry others.
Pro Tip 2/3Brief Moment
A wince is usually quick and immediately noticeable, not a prolonged gesture.
He winced at the splash of cold water but quickly regained composure.
Pro Tip 3/3Physically Triggered
Wince usually relates to a physical cause, like pain or discomfort, not emotional pain.
She winced when she stepped on the sharp stone.
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Video examples
Paul Debevec animates a...
from stretched skin pores to the regular skin texture. You can see the furrows in the brow and how the microstructure changes there. You can see muscles pulling down at flesh to bring her eyebrows down. Her muscles bulging in her forehead when she winces like that. In addition to this kind of high-resolution geometry,
Video examples
Carl Honore: In praise...
And I wince saying those words now, but my first reaction at the time was very different. My first reflex was to say, "Hallelujah -- what a great idea! This is exactly what I'm looking for to speed up bedtime even more." But thankfully, a light bulb went on over my head, and my next reaction was very different,
Video examples
Why Gender Equality Is...
and be just as committed to their careers as they are. I was talking, to give you an illustration of this change -- Some of you may remember this. When I was a lot younger, there was a riddle that was posed to us. Some of you may wince to remember this riddle. This riddle went something like this.
Video examples
Why we have an emotional...
And even that didn't work. They couldn't do it. So finally, we said, "We're going to destroy all of the robots unless someone takes a hatchet to one of them." And this guy stood up, and he took the hatchet, and the whole room winced as he brought the hatchet down on the robot's neck,
Video examples
Activism needs...
I'd wince and think, "Ooh, it's capital letters, it's too much." And I'd have to ignore it to read the lovely text she sent me. And that's a bit embarrassing, to tell people that capital letters overwhelm you, but we really need introverts to help us do intriguing activism
Video examples
Facilitating research on...
seek help halfway through the exam he started to wince in pain he got worse and worse until he was screaming that the whole building could hear him the mother tried to calm him but couldn't and started crying to apologizing I'm so sorry he's doing this our hearts broke
Video examples
On spaghetti sauce -...
between coffee that makes you wince and coffee that makes you deliriously happy that is the final i think most beautiful lesson of howard moskowitz that in embracing the diversity of human beings we will find a sure way to true happiness
Video examples
Ellen Dunham-Jones:...
they make me wince. So, you know, I mean I'm glad that the urbanism is doing its job. The fact that a protest is happening really does mean that the layout of the blocks, the streets and blocks, the putting in of public space,
Video examples
Choice, happiness and...
is a difference between coffee that makes you wince, and coffee that makes you deliriously happy. That is the final, and I think most beautiful lesson, of Howard that in embracing the diversity of human beings,
Video examples
Branding - A Painful...
you hear it oh it does hurt it's just adding your personal touch to it it's not really damaging it some parts I'm trying not to wince
Video examples
Paul Debevec animates a...
from stretched skin pores to the regular skin texture. You can see the furrows in the brow and how the microstructure changes there. You can see muscles pulling down at flesh to bring her eyebrows down. Her muscles bulging in her forehead when she winces like that. In addition to this kind of high-resolution geometry,
Video examples
Carl Honore: In praise...
And I wince saying those words now, but my first reaction at the time was very different. My first reflex was to say, "Hallelujah -- what a great idea! This is exactly what I'm looking for to speed up bedtime even more." But thankfully, a light bulb went on over my head, and my next reaction was very different,
Video examples
Why Gender Equality Is...
and be just as committed to their careers as they are. I was talking, to give you an illustration of this change -- Some of you may remember this. When I was a lot younger, there was a riddle that was posed to us. Some of you may wince to remember this riddle. This riddle went something like this.
Video examples
Why we have an emotional...
And even that didn't work. They couldn't do it. So finally, we said, "We're going to destroy all of the robots unless someone takes a hatchet to one of them." And this guy stood up, and he took the hatchet, and the whole room winced as he brought the hatchet down on the robot's neck,
Video examples
Activism needs...
I'd wince and think, "Ooh, it's capital letters, it's too much." And I'd have to ignore it to read the lovely text she sent me. And that's a bit embarrassing, to tell people that capital letters overwhelm you, but we really need introverts to help us do intriguing activism
Video examples
Facilitating research on...
seek help halfway through the exam he started to wince in pain he got worse and worse until he was screaming that the whole building could hear him the mother tried to calm him but couldn't and started crying to apologizing I'm so sorry he's doing this our hearts broke
Video examples
On spaghetti sauce -...
between coffee that makes you wince and coffee that makes you deliriously happy that is the final i think most beautiful lesson of howard moskowitz that in embracing the diversity of human beings we will find a sure way to true happiness
Video examples
Ellen Dunham-Jones:...
they make me wince. So, you know, I mean I'm glad that the urbanism is doing its job. The fact that a protest is happening really does mean that the layout of the blocks, the streets and blocks, the putting in of public space,
Video examples
Choice, happiness and...
is a difference between coffee that makes you wince, and coffee that makes you deliriously happy. That is the final, and I think most beautiful lesson, of Howard that in embracing the diversity of human beings,
Video examples
Branding - A Painful...
you hear it oh it does hurt it's just adding your personal touch to it it's not really damaging it some parts I'm trying not to wince
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Greg Berlanti
American Writer
There were moments where Supergirl gets a thrashing in the pilot, where if a man in the 'Flash' or 'Arrow' pilot got beat up, people didn't visibly wince. And I watched in testing, people in the audience really became uncomfortable by the fisticuffs and the action. But then, they were elated and cheering at the end.
Quote examples
Mike Birbiglia
American Comedian
I think that my regrets mostly have to do with my relationship with my ex-girlfriend. Every once in a while, you get those flashback memories of conversations you had with your exes, and you just, like, wince when you're walking down the street. Something occurs to you, 'Oh, no, I said that.
Quote examples
Michael Franti
American Musician
I'd play music on the street, especially in developing nations where a lot of kids couldn't wear shoes. In order to relate with kids that would be following me barefoot, I would take off my shoes, and they would all laugh at me because I couldn't go three steps without wincing.
Quote examples
Roy Blount, Jr.
American Writer
I just think lots of words have physicality. How about the word 'wobble?' You think that's arbitrary? When you say the word 'wince,' you wince. How about that?
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.
Quote examples
Pete Waterman
English Producer
There's a certain edge about cruelty. If you're honest about it, most people wince, but say it had to be said.
Quote examples
Helen Craig
English Writer
When you read 'author Katharine Holabird, creator of Angelina' and you're not even mentioned, you wince.
Quote examples
Norman Mailer
American Novelist
When I read it, I don't wince, which is all I ever ask for a book I write.
Quote examples
Luke Ford
Australian Writer
Looking back, I wince at the careless way I tossed out my opinions.
Quote examples
Terry Semel
American Businessman
Sometimes, on a personal level, I wince.
Quote examples
Greg Berlanti
American Writer
There were moments where Supergirl gets a thrashing in the pilot, where if a man in the 'Flash' or 'Arrow' pilot got beat up, people didn't visibly wince. And I watched in testing, people in the audience really became uncomfortable by the fisticuffs and the action. But then, they were elated and cheering at the end.
Quote examples
Mike Birbiglia
American Comedian
I think that my regrets mostly have to do with my relationship with my ex-girlfriend. Every once in a while, you get those flashback memories of conversations you had with your exes, and you just, like, wince when you're walking down the street. Something occurs to you, 'Oh, no, I said that.
Quote examples
Michael Franti
American Musician
I'd play music on the street, especially in developing nations where a lot of kids couldn't wear shoes. In order to relate with kids that would be following me barefoot, I would take off my shoes, and they would all laugh at me because I couldn't go three steps without wincing.
Quote examples
Roy Blount, Jr.
American Writer
I just think lots of words have physicality. How about the word 'wobble?' You think that's arbitrary? When you say the word 'wince,' you wince. How about that?
Quote examples
Samuel Johnson
English Writer
A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse and make him wince; but, one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.
Quote examples
Pete Waterman
English Producer
There's a certain edge about cruelty. If you're honest about it, most people wince, but say it had to be said.
Quote examples
Helen Craig
English Writer
When you read 'author Katharine Holabird, creator of Angelina' and you're not even mentioned, you wince.
Quote examples
Norman Mailer
American Novelist
When I read it, I don't wince, which is all I ever ask for a book I write.
Quote examples
Luke Ford
Australian Writer
Looking back, I wince at the careless way I tossed out my opinions.
Quote examples
Terry Semel
American Businessman
Sometimes, on a personal level, I wince.
Example 1 of 10
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