grimace
verb C2
Plain meaning
to twist your face because of pain, disgust, or dislike
Exam-register meaning
In formal or high-level texts, it is used to describe to twist your face because of pain, disgust, or dislike, often with a precise or specialised tone.
In context
naturalThe team tried to grimace the problem before it became serious.
examThe report argues that institutions should grimace ineffective practices through evidence-based reform.
Common collocations
grimace a proposalgrimace the issuegrimace in practice
Watch out
Do not use “grimace” with every object. Check the object that follows it and avoid using it when a simpler verb is more natural.
Word family
grimaceing (verb form)grimaceed (past/participle, where regular)