1
2
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
3
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of squinch
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
Striking a more calculated pose, Kloss squinches her eyes, which aids in further carving out her high cheekbones and defining her jawline.
—Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015
Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018
Here, she's added parted lips, slightly sucked-in cheeks, and a subtle chin tilt on top of her master squinch.
—Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Brick squinches, here decorated with windows and patterns mimicking those below, are not unique to the Samanid mausoleum.
—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
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
Striking a more calculated pose, Kloss squinches her eyes, which aids in further carving out her high cheekbones and defining her jawline.
—Lauren Valenti, Marie Claire, 23 July 2015
Noun
First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018
Here, she's added parted lips, slightly sucked-in cheeks, and a subtle chin tilt on top of her master squinch.
—Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, 1 Oct. 2015
Brick squinches, here decorated with windows and patterns mimicking those below, are not unique to the Samanid mausoleum.
—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
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The executive was unable to run due to a prior injury so crouched down and began to scream, as did her friend, who also tried to film the incident.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2025
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Nearby, kids were crouching to look into a clear tube tank and even adults were sliding on their backs under the adjacent upside-down jellyfish tank to snap a picture of these topsy-turvy creatures.—
Natallie Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Rosenworcel also dismissed a challenge to a Fox station license alleging that Fox willfully distorted news with false reports of fraud in the 2020 election that Trump lost.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2025
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But the only thing that is wild here is how badly the science supporting fluoridation is being distorted or ignored.—
Megha Satyanarayana,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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When UConn, national champs the last two years, appears on the screen on Selection Sunday, probably as a No. 8 seed, their first-, and potential second-round opponent may flinch, for a moment, at seeing the Huskies’ brand in their bracket.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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Witnesses to Utah’s last firing squad execution recently recalled to NBC News the sound of rapid gunfire in the chamber and how the inmate, Ronnie Lee Gardner, appeared to flinch and move his arm after being shot.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC News,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Those could also prove useful, but will face the challenge of distinguishing facial expressions unique to pain rather than similar grimaces related to being hungry.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 May 2017
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In the movie, the monkey is a two-foot-tall sculpted plastic model whose arms bang up and down on a drum, as his mouth opens up to bare its teeth in a violent grimace.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Others huddled in conversation in the Great Hall and in what was once the library of Andrew Carnegie’s uptown manse.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
4 Apr. 2025
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In Kentucky, Misty Vincent huddled in a bathtub with her four children and two pets as the storm ramped up overnight.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Allure,
5 Apr. 2025
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Denmark’s Anders Dreyer, the team’s goal leader with three, curled a free kick into the box.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Just look at what could’ve been the game-winning 3-pointer: The entire nation, minus Gator fans, winced at that.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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City officials winced at the thought of heavy military equipment rolling on streets.—
Cuneyt Dil,
Axios,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Shuffling feet, frowns or darting eyes signal discomfort and anxiety.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes,
14 Jan. 2025
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Below are some of the stocks JPMorgan frowns on: Vaccine maker Novavax is rated underweight by JPMorgan analysts.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
13 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Squinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/squinch. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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