grimacing
Making pained expressions
Grimacing is making a grimace—a facial expression of pain, disgust, or disapproval.
The face contorts, often with tightened features or a twisted mouth: She sat grimacing through the dentist's work.
Unlike a deliberate expression, grimacing often happens involuntarily in response to something unpleasant.
Reflexive recoil from distress
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- contortTwist unnaturally
- squintPartly close eyes
clench · grit · recoil · twinge · ache · agony · throb · sting
Backward force from discharge
- revulsionIntense physical disgust
- scowlAngry facial expression
- sneerScornful expression
- distasteMild aversion or dislike
repulsion · nausea · aversion · squeamish · shudder · cringe · bitter taste · unpleasant
Intense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
distress · agony · heartbreak · suffering · misery · pain · crying · sobbing
Robbery with violence
- hammingExaggerated theatrical performance
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
- cartoonishAbsurdly exaggerated in style
- sillyFrivolous or absurd
clowning · expressive · overacting · slapstick · Jim Carrey · contorted · goofy · theatrical
wince
Reflexive recoil from distress
squint · clench · grit · recoil · twinge · ache · agony · throb · sting · soreness
recoil
Backward force from discharge
distaste · repulsion · nausea · aversion · squeamish · shudder · cringe · bitter taste · unpleasant · off-putting
anguish
Intense mental suffering
torment · distress · agony · heartbreak · suffering · misery · pain · crying · sobbing · distraught
mugging
Robbery with violence
- hammingExaggerated theatrical performance
- exaggeratedMade larger than reality
- cartoonishAbsurdly exaggerated in style
silly · clowning · expressive · overacting · slapstick · Jim Carrey · contorted · goofy · theatrical · comedic timing
strain
Excessive stretching force
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- clenchSqueeze tightly shut
grit · push · lift · heave · grunt · sweat · flex · tense · workout · weightlifting
- body languagegestures, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, nodding
- emotional expressiontone, laughing, mood, yelling, crying
- facial expressionssmiling, smile, grin, grinning, frown
- fidgetingfidgeting, fidget, tapping, fiddle, finger tapping
- mouth actionsbite, biting, chewing, chew, swallowing
- reactionsreaction, response, gasp, wince, flinch