noun / verb

twinge

TWINJ/twɪndʒ/

A sudden brief stab of pain.

A sudden twinge in the gardener's lower back interrupts the movement upward.

A middle-aged gardener suddenly pauses while rising from a crouch, one hand at lower back and brief wince, a tiny restrained warm red accent near the painful spot conveys a short twinge.

Etymology

The image is a pinch: a small, sharp sensation rather than lasting pain. The noun extended from physical pinching to sudden pain, then to brief emotional discomfort such as shame or remorse.

In context

Old Time Radio Researchers38:36

I did have a twinge of Envy when I saw those gorgeous clothes designed for Merl oon one negl in particular it was very simply made but the softest most beautiful satin imaginable

Lux Radio Theatre - Notorious

More examples

My ankle twinges whenever I turn it the wrong way.
Her shoulder twinged as she reached for the top shelf.
The twinges in my back fade after a few minutes.

Forms

twinge · twinges · twinged · twinging

Similar words

pang: Often describes emotional distress as well as sudden physical pain.
stab: Emphasizes sharpness, without necessarily suggesting that the pain is brief.