flinch

verb

ˈflinch

flinched; flinching; flinches

intransitive verb

: to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain : wince

He flinched when he was presented with the car repair bill.

also : to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort

I cannot help flinching when I hear the dentist's drill.

flinch noun

flincher noun

Example Sentences

He flinched when I tapped him on the shoulder. She met danger without flinching. The bill was much higher than expected, but he paid it without flinching.

Recent Examples on the Web When asked what a world-famous tennis pro and an author have in common, Reid doesn’t flinch.

Caitlin Brody, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2022 Better yet, the show doesn’t flinch from the tragic undertow with two bravura, extended video sequences combining the stiff upper-lippery of it all with its often fatal consequences.

David Benedict, Variety, 15 July 2022 The creators don’t flinch from the most difficult conversations surrounding the topic, and the scenarios feel real to anyone who has ever given the subject of having children any serious thought.

Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 24 June 2022 The thud of artillery on the nearby front line resonated just a few miles away, making some workers flinch and others run for cover.

Francesca Ebel, ajc, 10 July 2022 His teammates keep failing to make routine plays but Nichols refuses to flinch.

Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 Reports from some consumer-staples companies suggest households have yet to flinch at higher prices for basic items.

Karen Langley, WSJ, 2 May 2022 When asked pregame whether the mood in the locker room was angry or nervous, Celtics coach Ime Udoka didn't flinch.

Matt Eppers, USA TODAY, 17 June 2022 The Eagles did not flinch, responding with a three-run sixth inning that gave them a second straight state championship.

Franco Panizo, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2022 See More

flinch 1 of 2

verb

as in to wince

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

wince
recoil
cringe
shudder
tremble
hesitate
blench
shrink
shake
quail
quiver
crouch
blanch
retreat
pale
withdraw
twitch
squinch
quake
falter
jerk
waver
recede
whiten
reel
start
retire

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

face
approach
advance
confront
challenge
near
beard
defy

flinch

2 of 2

noun

as in wince

Synonyms & Similar Words

wince
grimace
frown
scowl
squinch
growl
snarl
pout
moue
lower
mow
smirk
mouth
sneer
snoot
face
scoff
stare
rictus
simper
glower
glare
lour
mug
look

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

smile
laugh
grin

as in recoil

Synonyms & Similar Words

recoil
revulsion
withdrawal
disengagement
shrinking
retirement
pullout
rout
pullback
retreat
recession
disentanglement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

advance
advancement

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of flinch are blench, quail, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

While in some cases nearly identical to flinch, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

The words quail and flinch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

In some situations, the words recoil and flinch are roughly equivalent. However, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

While the synonyms shrink and flinch are close in meaning, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

Although the words wince and flinch have much in common, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

单词	flinch
释义	flinch verb ˈflinch flinched; flinching; flinches intransitive verb : to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain : wince He flinched when he was presented with the car repair bill. also : to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort I cannot help flinching when I hear the dentist's drill. flinch noun flincher noun Synonyms blench cringe quail recoil shrink squinch wince See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences He flinched when I tapped him on the shoulder. She met danger without flinching. The bill was much higher than expected, but he paid it without flinching. Recent Examples on the Web When asked what a world-famous tennis pro and an author have in common, Reid doesn’t flinch. Caitlin Brody, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2022 Better yet, the show doesn’t flinch from the tragic undertow with two bravura, extended video sequences combining the stiff upper-lippery of it all with its often fatal consequences. David Benedict, Variety, 15 July 2022 The creators don’t flinch from the most difficult conversations surrounding the topic, and the scenarios feel real to anyone who has ever given the subject of having children any serious thought. Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 24 June 2022 The thud of artillery on the nearby front line resonated just a few miles away, making some workers flinch and others run for cover. Francesca Ebel, ajc, 10 July 2022 His teammates keep failing to make routine plays but Nichols refuses to flinch. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022 Reports from some consumer-staples companies suggest households have yet to flinch at higher prices for basic items. Karen Langley, WSJ, 2 May 2022 When asked pregame whether the mood in the locker room was angry or nervous, Celtics coach Ime Udoka didn't flinch. Matt Eppers, USA TODAY, 17 June 2022 The Eagles did not flinch, responding with a three-run sixth inning that gave them a second straight state championship. Franco Panizo, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle French flenchir to bend, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German lenken to bend, Old High German hlanca flank — more at lank First Known Use 1578, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition flinch verb ˈflinch flinched; flinching : to draw back from or as if from pain or fear … Homily did not flinch as the great face came slowly closer. Mary Norton, The Borrowers flinch 1 of 2 verb as in to wince to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance wince recoil cringe shudder tremble hesitate blench shrink shake quail quiver crouch blanch retreat pale withdraw twitch squinch quake falter jerk waver recede whiten reel start retire Antonyms & Near Antonyms face approach advance confront challenge near beard defy See More flinch 2 of 2 noun 1 as in wince Synonyms & Similar Words wince grimace frown scowl squinch growl snarl pout moue lower mow smirk mouth sneer snoot face scoff stare rictus simper glower glare lour mug look Antonyms & Near Antonyms smile laugh grin 2 as in recoil Synonyms & Similar Words recoil revulsion withdrawal disengagement shrinking retirement pullout rout pullback retreat recession disentanglement Antonyms & Near Antonyms advance advancement Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of flinch are blench, quail, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution. faced her accusers without flinching While in some cases nearly identical to flinch, blench implies fainthearted flinching. stood their ground without blenching The words quail and flinch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear. quailed before the apparition In some situations, the words recoil and flinch are roughly equivalent. However, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust. recoiled at the suggestion of stealing While the synonyms shrink and flinch are close in meaning, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice. shrank from the unpleasant truth Although the words wince and flinch have much in common, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling). winced in pain
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flinch

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser