clenched jaw
Tight-lipped determination
A clenched jaw is one held tight, with teeth pressed together and muscles tensed.
The expression signals anger, determination, or suppressed emotion: He spoke through a clenched jaw.
Someone might clench their jaw to keep from crying or saying something regrettable.
Chronic jaw clenching, often from stress, can cause pain and dental problems.
- tensionStretched or strained state
- grindCrush into particles
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- angerIntense hostile emotion
gritting teeth · tight · muscle · jaw · grimace · stiff upper lip · bruxism · bite · bite down · clamp · headache · pain · frustration · rage · lockjaw · TMJ · strain · determination
- angry expressionsfurrowed brow, narrowed eyes, scowl, glare, stern look
- body stressmuscle tension, soreness, stiffness, strain, aches
- facial expressionssmiling, smile, grin, grinning, frown
- stressstress, chronic stress, acute stress, strain, stressor
- catatoniacatalepsy, waxy flexibility, mutism, stupor, posturing