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Definition of wince

wince

/wɪns/
wince
Plural:winces
•
Past Simple:winced
•
Past Participle:winced
•
Present Participle:wincing
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wince Lexical Profile

wince Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To make a slight, involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body out of pain, distress, or embarrassment.

Example

"She winced when she remembered the awkward mistake she had made during the presentation."

Synonyms
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• noun

1

A slight, involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body caused by pain, distress, or embarrassment.

Example

"He gave a slight wince as the nurse applied antiseptic to the scrape on his knee."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wince

• Rhymes for wince

• Nearby Words

wimple piranha
wimpy
win
wince
winch
winchester
wincingly

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English wincen ('to kick out or recoil'), borrowed from Anglo-Norman French guenchir ('to turn aside or dodge'), which is ultimately of Frankish origin and related to the English word 'wink'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wince. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wince
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