pucker

He avoids kissing for 24 hours before a performance and 48 hours before a competition because it makes it difficult to sustain a pucker.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026

The kind that makes your mouth pucker and your tongue go numb from all the acids decimating your taste buds.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2025

Mattel should have considered traditional pucker toe moccasins, instead of black shoes, and included symbols on the basket that Cherokees use to tell a story, she said.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 4, 2023

In other words, this complex dance between art, anatomy, and archaeology can bring the past almost to life—one eyelash, pucker, and pore at a time.

From National Geographic ● Oct. 23, 2023

My lips pucker like I just tasted something sour.

From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

The building alternately puckers and swells, like the indolent flexing of a muscle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Fattoush is one of the bright, simple joys of summer: Tomatoes spill sunshine, pita shards and cucumbers take turns showing off their snap, sumac puckers, and mint and parsley cool, often, in a single bite.

From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2022

The crunchy onion gives a little sweetness while the pickle puckers in the most pleasing way to cut through all that heat.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2022

As my forehead sadly puckers, I will play them all for suckers, Yes, I'll con the rubes in Maine.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 18, 2021

Mary’s mouth puckers, and she gives me a hard look.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Some people love the sound of songs blown through puckered lips, or at least appreciate the effort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026

Hashtags such as #sunburntanlines, #sunpoisoning and #sunstroke are popping up alongside videos of young men and women - some in tears - revealing deep red, almost purple, often puckered skin.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2025

He puckered his lips and blew, as if spitting spitting water while laughing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2022

A few days later, Van Gaal puckered up.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2022

Aunt Kitty had that pickled-onion look again, her mouth puckered up so tight that her lips nearly disappeared.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

"We had particular difficulties with hard sounds like 'B' and with sounds involving lip puckering, such as 'W'. But these abilities will likely improve with time and practice," Lipson said.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 16, 2026

But those who are familiar with and enjoy Robinson’s puckering brand of cringe are probably up for the challenge — which it is, in the best way.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2025

In fact, she’s so dedicated to that social critique that she can’t accept any contradictory evidence, even when gorgeous male celebrity lips are puckering up right in front of her.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 28, 2023

The espresso can be sipped, unsweetened, without puckering or grimacing.

From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2022

Not only the teacher and the boys; also missing were the furniture and fixtures, and there were long winding gashes puckering the walls where someone had ripped out the wiring.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer