Illustration of squinch
squinch
1 of 2verb
ˈskwinch 
squinched; squinching; squinches
transitive verb
1
: to screw up (the eyes or face) : squint
2
a
: to make more compact
b
: to cause to crouch down or draw together
intransitive verb
1
: flinch
2
: to crouch down or draw together
3
: squint
squinch
2 of 2noun
: a support (such as an arch, lintel, or corbeling) carried across the corner of a room under a superimposed mass
Synonyms
Verb
- couch
- crouch
- huddle
- hunch
- hunker (down)
- scrunch
- squat
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb squinched down to fit under the table squinched up her eyes in disgust
Recent Examples on the Web
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 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 First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner. Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018 See More
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 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 First, atop the cube sits an octagonal structure with arched squinches angled across each corner. Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 4 May 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably blend of squint and pinch
Noun
alteration of earlier scunch back part of the side of an opening
First Known Use
Verb
1835, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1840, in the meaning defined above
squinching 1 of 2
noun
as in deformation
the twisting of something out of its natural or normal shape or condition warned him that the constant squinching of his face would someday leave him with a permanently deformed look Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- deformation
- distortion
- deformity
- misshaping
- screwing
- warping
- torturing
- contortion
- disfigurement
- defacement
- malformation
squinching
2 of 2verb
1
as in crouching
to lie low with the limbs close to the body squinched down to fit under the table Synonyms & Similar Words
- crouching
- hunching
- huddling
- squatting
- scrunching
- couching
- hunkering (down)
- curling up
2
as in distorting
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition squinched up her eyes in disgust Synonyms & Similar Words
- distorting
- contorting
- curling
- misshaping
- deforming
- screwing
- torturing
- warping
- disfiguring
- wringing
- defacing
- coiling
- winding
- wrenching
- spiraling
- looping
- twining
- wreathing
- spiralling
- wresting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightening
- uncurling
- unbending
3
as in flinching
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust didn't squinch a bit when the intruder pulled a knife on him Synonyms & Similar Words
- flinching
- wincing
- recoiling
- cringing
- shuddering
- trembling
- shrinking
- blenching
- quivering
- shaking
- quailing
- hesitating
- crouching
- twitching
- quaking
- blanching
- retreating
- whitening
- jerking
- paling
- wavering
- receding
- faltering
- withdrawing
- reeling
- retiring
- starting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approaching
- facing
- confronting
- advancing
- nearing
- defying
- challenging
- bearding