wince

Noun

• a reflex response to sudden pain

• the facial expression of sudden pain

Verb

• make a face indicating disgust or dislike
  • She winced when she heard his pompous speech
    

• draw back, as with fear or pain
  • she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  flinch , squinch , funk , cringe , shrink , recoil , quail