recoil

1 of 2

verb

re·coil ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce recoil (audio)

recoiled; recoiling; recoils

intransitive verb

: to fall back under pressure

: to shrink back physically or emotionally

: to spring back to or as if to a starting point : rebound

obsolete : degenerate

recoil

2 of 2

noun

re·coil ˈrē-ˌkȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce recoil (audio)

ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l

: the act or action of recoiling

especially : the kickback of a gun upon firing

: reaction

the recoil from the rigors of Calvinism

Edmund Wilson

Example Sentences

Verb We recoiled in horror at the sight of his wounded arm. He recoiled from her touch. The rifle recoiled and bruised my shoulder. Noun The gun has a sharp recoil.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The unknown is whether policy leaders in these communities, red and blue alike, will stick with their current efforts, or recoil in fear of what the next election could bring.

Philip Elliott, Time, 7 June 2022 But while some marvel at Núñez Vicente's innovation, others recoil, concerned about claustrophobia and convinced sitting underneath someone else would be worse, not better, than the current airplane economy set-up.

Francesca Street, CNN, 14 June 2022 When the prominent British sports promoter pitches his vision of drawing impressive crowds and strong U.S. television viewership with darts, the initial reaction is to recoil as if an unsightly plate of bangers and mash has been set before them.

Lance Pugmire, USA TODAY, 25 May 2022 This can be very unsettling for managers, who often recoil from the unexpected intensity.

Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 There are plenty of New Yorkers who recoil at the name.

Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2022 The exact same brotherly ties between Ukraine and Russia that Putin wrote about in an essay on their historical unity may cause a significant number of Russians to recoil if the war becomes long, or particularly bloody.

Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 25 Feb. 2022 Some Republicans recoil from the legislative efforts.

New York Times, 12 Apr. 2022 But the elderly Filipinos did not shudder or recoil.

Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2022

Noun

Faculty and staff recoil as the school adds language explicitly requiring new hires to waive clergy confidentiality on matters related to employment standards.

David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Such rifles allow people, including women, to shoot a larger gun without having to absorb as much recoil.

Lindsay Whitehurst, ajc, 27 July 2022 Such rifles allow people, including women, to shoot a larger gun without having to absorb as much recoil.

Lindsay Whitehurst, Chron, 27 July 2022 Since then, the fintech market has faced a sobering recoil from lofty pandemic-era valuations.

Emily Mason, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Features such as second-hand grips and thumb-hole stocks make the weapon easy to aim and hold with both hands while firing dozens of rounds with little recoil.

The Week Staff, The Week, 12 June 2022 Indeed, his overeager, rather clumsy attempt to reconnect after two-and-a-half decades of absence is perhaps the one reaction most certain to make his prodigal daughter recoil.

Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 May 2022 At each checkpoint, Russian soldiers make male passengers lift up their shirts, looking for nationalist tattoos and bruises from the recoil of a Kalashnikov.

Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 For kids and new shooters, suppressors take away the two things that bother them – recoil and noise.

al, 31 Mar. 2022 See More

recoil 1 of 2

verb

as in to flinch

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust the social worker tried not to recoil from the sight of the cockroach in the bathtub

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

approach
face
advance
confront
challenge
near
beard
defy

recoil

2 of 2

noun

as in revulsion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

advance
advancement

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of recoil are blench, flinch, quail, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

The words blench and recoil can be used in similar contexts, but blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

The meanings of flinch and recoil largely overlap; however, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

While the synonyms quail and recoil are close in meaning, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

While in some cases nearly identical to recoil, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

The words wince and recoil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

单词	recoil
释义	recoil 1 of 2 verb re·coil ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l recoiled; recoiling; recoils intransitive verb 1 a : to fall back under pressure b : to shrink back physically or emotionally 2 : to spring back to or as if to a starting point : rebound 3 obsolete : degenerate recoil 2 of 2 noun re·coil ˈrē-ˌkȯi(-ə)l ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l 1 : the act or action of recoiling especially : the kickback of a gun upon firing 2 : reaction the recoil from the rigors of Calvinism Edmund Wilson Synonyms Verb blench cringe flinch quail shrink squinch wince See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb We recoiled in horror at the sight of his wounded arm. He recoiled from her touch. The rifle recoiled and bruised my shoulder. Noun The gun has a sharp recoil. Recent Examples on the Web Verb The unknown is whether policy leaders in these communities, red and blue alike, will stick with their current efforts, or recoil in fear of what the next election could bring. Philip Elliott, Time, 7 June 2022 But while some marvel at Núñez Vicente's innovation, others recoil, concerned about claustrophobia and convinced sitting underneath someone else would be worse, not better, than the current airplane economy set-up. Francesca Street, CNN, 14 June 2022 When the prominent British sports promoter pitches his vision of drawing impressive crowds and strong U.S. television viewership with darts, the initial reaction is to recoil as if an unsightly plate of bangers and mash has been set before them. Lance Pugmire, USA TODAY, 25 May 2022 This can be very unsettling for managers, who often recoil from the unexpected intensity. Nancy Doyle, Forbes, 25 Apr. 2022 There are plenty of New Yorkers who recoil at the name. Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2022 The exact same brotherly ties between Ukraine and Russia that Putin wrote about in an essay on their historical unity may cause a significant number of Russians to recoil if the war becomes long, or particularly bloody. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 25 Feb. 2022 Some Republicans recoil from the legislative efforts. New York Times, 12 Apr. 2022 But the elderly Filipinos did not shudder or recoil. Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2022 Noun Faculty and staff recoil as the school adds language explicitly requiring new hires to waive clergy confidentiality on matters related to employment standards. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Such rifles allow people, including women, to shoot a larger gun without having to absorb as much recoil. Lindsay Whitehurst, ajc, 27 July 2022 Such rifles allow people, including women, to shoot a larger gun without having to absorb as much recoil. Lindsay Whitehurst, Chron, 27 July 2022 Since then, the fintech market has faced a sobering recoil from lofty pandemic-era valuations. Emily Mason, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Features such as second-hand grips and thumb-hole stocks make the weapon easy to aim and hold with both hands while firing dozens of rounds with little recoil. The Week Staff, The Week, 12 June 2022 Indeed, his overeager, rather clumsy attempt to reconnect after two-and-a-half decades of absence is perhaps the one reaction most certain to make his prodigal daughter recoil. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 May 2022 At each checkpoint, Russian soldiers make male passengers lift up their shirts, looking for nationalist tattoos and bruises from the recoil of a Kalashnikov. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 For kids and new shooters, suppressors take away the two things that bother them – recoil and noise. al, 31 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Verb Middle English reculen, recoilen, from Anglo-French reculer, recuiler, from re- + cul backside — more at culet First Known Use Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing recoil recoil-operated recoil-operated Kids Definition recoil 1 of 2 verb re·coil ri-ˈkȯil recoiled; recoiling 1 : to draw back He recoiled in horror. 2 : to spring back to or as if to a starting position The rifle recoiled upon firing. recoil 2 of 2 noun : a sudden backward movement or springing back (as of a gun just fired) recoil 1 of 2 verb as in to flinch to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust the social worker tried not to recoil from the sight of the cockroach in the bathtub Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance flinch wince cringe shudder blench tremble quail hesitate shrink quiver shake quake pale crouch squinch retreat blanch withdraw twitch whiten jerk reel falter recede waver retire start Antonyms & Near Antonyms approach face advance confront challenge near beard defy See More recoil 2 of 2 noun as in revulsion Synonyms & Similar Words revulsion flinch disengagement withdrawal shrinking retirement rout pullout pullback retreat recession disentanglement Antonyms & Near Antonyms advance advancement Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of recoil are blench, flinch, quail, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust. recoiled at the suggestion of stealing The words blench and recoil can be used in similar contexts, but blench implies fainthearted flinching. stood their ground without blenching The meanings of flinch and recoil largely overlap; however, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution. faced her accusers without flinching While the synonyms quail and recoil are close in meaning, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear. quailed before the apparition While in some cases nearly identical to recoil, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice. shrank from the unpleasant truth The words wince and recoil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling). winced in pain
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recoil

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing recoil

Kids Definition

verb

noun

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser