flinch

flinch

verb \ˈflinch\

Definition of FLINCH

intransitive verb

: to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain : wince; also : to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort

— flinch noun

— flinch·er noun

Examples of FLINCH

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

Origin of FLINCH

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

Related to FLINCH

Synonyms: blench, cringe, quail, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince

Related Words: blanch, pale, whiten; quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble; crouch; jerk, start, twitch; recede, retire, retreat, withdraw; falter, hesitate, reel, waver

Near Antonyms: advance, approach, near; beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

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See Synonym Discussion at recoil

Rhymes with FLINCH

chinch, cinch, clinch, finch, grinch, inch, lynch, Minch, pinch, squinch, winch