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Learn the meaning, synonyms, and usage of the verb and noun flinch, which means to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain. See examples, word history, and related articles from Merriam-Webster.
Learn the meaning of flinch, a verb that describes a sudden, small movement because of pain or fear. Find synonyms, related words, and usage examples from the Cambridge English Corpus and the Hansard archive.
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Find 71 similar and opposite words for flinch, a verb meaning to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust. Learn the nuances and differences of flinch, wince, recoil, quail, shrink, and more.
- How is the word 'flinch' distinct from other similar verbs?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...
- When can 'blench' be used instead of 'flinch'?While in some cases nearly identical to flinch, blench implies fainthearted flinching. // stood their ground without blenching
- When would 'quail' be a good substitute for 'flinch'?The words quail and flinch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear. // quailed before th...
- In what contexts can 'recoil' take the place of 'flinch'?In some situations, the words recoil and flinch are roughly equivalent. However, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or di...
- When might 'shrink' be a better fit than 'flinch'?While the synonyms shrink and flinch are close in meaning, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardic...
- When is 'wince' a more appropriate choice than 'flinch'?Although the words wince and flinch have much in common, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling). // w...
To flinch is to react to pain by wincing, pulling away, or cringing. Often it's used to describe a person who shows a moment of weakness or fright: he was so tough, I thought he'd never flinch, but snakes really freak him out.
1. / flɪntʃ / verb. a variant of flense. flinch. 2. / flɪntʃ / verb. to draw back suddenly, as from pain, shock, etc; wince. he flinched as the cold water struck him. often foll by from to avoid contact (with); shy away. he never flinched from his duty. noun. the act or an instance of drawing back. a card game in which players build sequences.
4 days ago · Learn the meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, and usage of the verb 'flinch' and its noun and transitive forms. Find out the difference between 'flinch' and 'flense', and see examples of 'flinch' in sentences.
Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the verb flinch, which means to make a sudden movement with your face or body as a result of pain, fear, surprise, etc. See examples, synonyms and phrasal verbs with flinch.
