Meaning & use
moue
Last updated
UK/muː/
US/muː/
Meaning
nouncountableliterary
A small pout or face made by pushing the lips together to show annoyance, distaste, or playful disappointment.
Grammar: Often with a: a moue of disgust.
Patterns
- a moue of something
- make a moue
She made a moue of disappointment when the cake was gone.
He answered the question with a small moue of distaste.
The child pulled a moue and refused her vegetables.
Word forms
| plural | moues |
|---|
Common combinations
- a moue of distaste
- She gave a moue of distaste at the bitter coffee.
- a moue of disappointment
- A moue of disappointment crossed his face.
- pull a moue
- She pulled a moue when told to wait.
- a little moue
- With a little moue, she turned away.
- make a moue
- He made a moue at the idea of walking in the rain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pout
- Pout is the common English word and can express sulking, while moue is more literary and often lighter and more fleeting.
- grimace
- Grimace is a stronger twisted expression of pain or disgust, while moue is a small, pursed-lip expression.
- scowl
- A scowl shows anger with a frown, but a moue involves the lips and is usually milder.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: moue or mousse?
moue vs mousse
Mousse is a soft foamy food or styling product; moue is a facial expression. Moue is pronounced like moo.
Practice
With a small ___ of distaste, she pushed the plate away.
Choose one answer.
A moue is a pout of the lips showing distaste. Mouse, mood, and moan do not fit that phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “moue”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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