wince

verb

ˈwin(t)s 

winced; wincing

intransitive verb

: to shrink back involuntarily (as from pain) : flinch

wince noun

Synonyms

• blench
• cringe
• flinch
• quail
• recoil
• shrink
• squinch

Choose the Right Synonym for wince

recoil, shrink, flinch, wince, blench, quail mean to draw back in fear or distaste.

recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

Examples of wince in a Sentence

winced at the movie's graphic depiction of combat injuries

Recent Examples on the Web

Native artists winced two years ago when Gilbert Ortega Jr. accosted Native performers in front of his store in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, during a Super Bowl promotion. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024

Given the number of injury problems Everton have had already this summer, Dyche must have winced when captain Seamus Coleman went down with a calf problem half an hour into Saturday’s draw against Roma, before heading straight down the tunnel for treatment. —Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024

Native artists winced two years ago when Gilbert Ortega Jr. accosted Native performers in front of his Old Town Scottsdale store during a Super Bowl promotion. —Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024

Seven-year-old Nathalie winced one morning as a nurse injected an antibiotic in her arm. —Elian Peltier, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wynsen to kick out, start, from Anglo-French *wincer, *guincer to shift direction, dodge, by-form of guenchir, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wenken, wankōn to totter — more at wench

First Known Use

circa 1748, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

wince

verb

ˈwin(t)s 

winced; wincing

: to shrink back (as from pain) : flinch

the cut on my leg caused me to wince

the crowd winced when the skater fell on the ice

wince noun