SQUINCH Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

squinch 1 of 2

verb

ˈskwinch

Definition of squinch

as in to crouch

to lie low with the limbs close to the body squinched down to fit under the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to distort

to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition squinched up her eyes in disgust

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to flinch

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust didn't squinch a bit when the intruder pulled a knife on him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

squinch

2 of 2

noun

as in grimace

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of squinch

Verb

Some boys and girls look directly at the camera, while others squinch up their faces. — Mary Carole McCauley, baltimoresun.com, 18 Jan. 2022 To deepen the illusion that life is just one big fashion spread, we've been trained to 1) smize, 2) duck face, 3) squinch, and now, 4) fish gape. — Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015

Noun

First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner. — Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018 Take Karlie Kloss for example, who at Tuesday night's Paper Towns premiere, showed off her propensity for a professional squinch. — Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015

Recent Examples of Synonyms for squinch

Verb

In one video, a young orangutan can be seen crouching in the corner of a small, dark crate, its frightened eyes wide open.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
The hooded men laid the prisoner in the grass and crouched around him.

— Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of crouch

Verb

While there are men who have been affected — George Brett Olson has been one vocal example — the majority affected seem to be women, whose likenesses are often exaggerated or distorted for the purposes of sexualization.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
The carbon molecules then distort the star’s light so much that almost all of it is squeezed into wavelengths beyond 600 nanometres.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of distort

Verb

During the Wildcats' first attempt on the two-point conversion, a Kentucky player appeared to flinch, and while a flag was thrown, it was negated by a timeout called by the Wildcats.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
While Levi’s had been making a lot of noise about being a DTC-first retailer, in an interview with WWD, Gass emphasized the importance of a broad base and didn’t flinch away from what went wrong in DTC.

— Evan Clark, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of flinch

Noun

During his cross-examination, the pain became obvious in McDonald’s grimace.

— Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
In the fifth inning, Soto fouled a ball off his right leg, eliciting a grimace from him and attention from both an athletic trainer and Green.

— Will Sammon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of grimace

Verb

Diaby scored the winner on a nifty shot from outside the box, curling it into the top right corner of the net for his second goal in his eighth MLS match.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, meanwhile, became the first American team to win a medal in Olympic mixed doubles curling, taking silver.

— Preston Fore, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of curl

Verb

While uptight Elinor excels at hiding her feelings for the similarly taciturn Edward, Marianne goes wild (nearly feral, really) when new neighbor Willoughby saves her from physical injury (literally sweeping her off her feet and a wincing ankle).

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026
The financial bets are large enough for boards to wince at capital expenditure implications.

— Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of wince

Noun

The late-night host teasingly drew his face into a frown in order to copy Washington’s facial expression.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026

Definition of frown

Browse Nearby Words

squiggling

squinch

squinched

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Style

“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of squinch

verb

noun

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