1. a fixed grimace or grin, especially one expressing horror, pain, or death
Usage: formal; often used in literary contexts
2. the gape or opening of the mouth, especially of a bird
Usage: technical; zoological

Examples

• The actor’s face was frozen in a terrifying rictus of pain.
• Death had left a permanent rictus on the victim’s face.
• The clown’s painted rictus was more frightening than funny.
• The bird’s rictus was bright yellow, contrasting with its dark feathers.
• His face contorted into a rictus of disgust.
• The photograph captured the soldier’s final rictus of agony.