grimace
grih-MAHS
/ɡrɪˈmɑːs/
An ugly, twisted expression on a person's face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement.
Usually involuntary and brief, triggered by a sudden physical sensation (like pain) or an emotional reaction (like disgust).
The story behind the word. Borrowed from French in the mid-17th century, the word likely originates from the Spanish 'grimazo', meaning a caricature, or the Germanic 'grima', meaning a mask or ghost. This suggests an expression so distorted that it transforms the face into a scary or unnatural mask.
Word relationships
- wince: A wince is a slight flinch of the whole body or face in response to pain, whereas a grimace is specifically a facial contortion.
- frown: A frown involves knitting the brows in anger or worry, while a grimace involves twisting the entire mouth and face.
- smile: A smile is an expression of pleasure or warmth, whereas a grimace is an expression of pain or disgust.
Commonly confused with
- grime: Grime is dirt ingrained on the surface of something, whereas grimace is a facial expression.
Word family
- grimacer (noun): One who makes grimaces.
Collocations
- grimace in pain
- grimace of disgust
- involuntary grimace
Example sentences
- "She tried to hide her disappointment, but a brief grimace betrayed her true feelings when she tasted the sour milk." Reacting to an unpleasant taste.
Memory hook
When you make a grim face because you have to ace a hard test, that's a grim-ace. The mask of pain.
When not to use
Do not use for a deliberate, prolonged expression of anger, which is better described as a scowl.
Fun facts
- Psychologists have found that the facial muscles used to make a grimace are universally recognized across all human cultures, suggesting it is an evolutionary survival mechanism to warn others of danger or bad food.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.