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wincingly

wincingly

1 9.1
Making a quick face of pain or embarrassment
  • adverb
  • /ˈwɪŋkɪŋli/
translation icon : con un gesto de dolor
  • He winced wincingly as the doctor injected the needle into his arm.

Examples

  • The child winced wincingly after accidentally stepping on the sharp toy.

  • There's often also something more wincingly dysfunctional going on.

    Blog text (27)
  • The cast is first-rate, particularly Bamber as the godfather of gossip with a wincingly creepy obsession with his young sister Susan (a superb Caroline Keiff).

    Blog text (2)
  • She let out a wincingly uncomfortable laugh when she tripped in front of everyone.

Synonyms

painfully
vswincingly
106 3.7

In a way that causes physical or emotional pain

shows a visible reaction rather than describing pain itself
uneasily
vswincingly
19 4.2

In a worried or uncomfortable way

expresses pain or embarrassment rather than mainly worry or anxiety
tensely
vswincingly
3 3.9

In a nervous, worried way that shows stress

shows physical or emotional pain or embarrassment rather than tense anxiety
embarrassedly
vswincingly
1 4.6

In a way that shows someone is shy or awkward

adds reactions of pain or discomfort beyond mere self consciousness
shamefacedly
vswincingly
1 7.9

In a shy, embarrassed way

covers pain or discomfort in addition to visible embarrassment or shame
flinchingly
vswincingly
7.8

In a nervous way that shows fear or hesitation

shows a general pain or embarrassment reaction rather than fear-driven withdrawal
writhingly
vswincingly
  • Literature
9.6

In a way that shows strong embarrassment or discomfort

expresses a milder visible reaction of pain or embarrassment
woundedly
vswincingly
  • Literature
7.2

In a way that shows hurt feelings

covers reactions to pain discomfort or embarrassment more broadly
squirmingly
vswincingly
7.4

In a way that shows discomfort or nervousness by moving restlessly

expresses a sharp reaction of pain or embarrassment rather than restless movement
cringingly
vswincingly
8.1

In a way that makes people feel embarrassed or uncomfortable

shows personal pain or embarrassment rather than social awkwardness causing discomfort
abashedly
vswincingly
8.1

In a way that shows someone is embarrassed

also covers pain or physical discomfort not only embarrassment

Antonyms

110 1.0

In a calm, steady way without showing anger or nervousness

How Pained

agonizingly
  • US
4 7.4
painfully
106 3.7
wincingly
1 9.1

Surface Forms

wincingly positive

Morphology

wincingly = wincing (transparent) = wince + ing + ly

Formed by adding '-ly' to 'wincing'; the meaning 'in a manner that shows wincing' is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Wincingly comes from the verb wince, which originally meant 'to draw back' when someone feels pain or shock. So to do something wincingly is to show a small movement or a pained look because of pain, discomfort, or embarrassment.