squinched

Squeezed face tight

Squinched describes something compressed, contracted, or scrunched together.

Eyes squinched shut are squeezed tightly closed.

A face squinched up shows features drawn together in discomfort, concentration, or distaste: She squinched her eyes against the bright light.

The word suggests a tight, cramped contraction rather than a gentle closing.

facial

scrunched

Crushed into compact mass

crinkledFormed small wrinkles
puckeredDrawn into wrinkles
squintedNarrowed one's eyes

winced · grimaced · furrowed · pinched · contorted · screwed up · wrinkled · creased · narrowed · tightened

eyes

squinted

Narrowed one's eyes

peeredLooked with effort
narrowedMade less wide
half-closedPartly shut, partly open

crinkled · scrunched · strained · blinked · slit · focused · concentrated · glared · scrutinized · peeked

posture

hunched

Bent at spine

crouchedBent knees, lowered body
curledFormed into coils
compressedReduced by pressure

contracted · scrunched · huddled · folded · tucked · bent · stooped · cramped · balled up · drawn in

discomfort

winced

Recoiled from pain

cringedRecoiled from disgust
recoiledShrank back suddenly
flinchedRecoiled involuntarily from threat

shrank · grimaced · tensed · tightened · braced · withdrew · contracted · squeezed · uncomfortable · pained

space

squeezed

Pressed firmly together

crammedOverfilled or overstuffed
wedgedFixed tightly between surfaces
compressedReduced by pressure

packed · stuffed · jammed · fitted · tucked · nestled · confined · tight · compact · snug

Opposites

eye/face openness

squinchedwide-eyed

Showing naive amazement

open · opened · wide open · agape · staring

body posture contraction

squinchedsprawled

Lay spread out loosely

stretched out · spread out · relaxed · extended · expanded

Family

squinching, squinch

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G