Synonyms of flinches

flinches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flinch

as in winces

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust

there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• winces
• recoils
• cringes
• shudders
• trembles
• hesitates
• shrinks
• shakes
• withdraws
• quivers
• crouches
• blenches
• retreats
• quails
• pales
• squinches
• whitens
• blanches
• twitches
• quakes
• falters
• jerks
• recedes
• wavers
• retires
• starts
• reels

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advances
• approaches
• nears
• confronts
• faces
• defies
• challenges
• beards

flinches

2 of 2

noun

plural of flinch

1

as in grimaces

Related Words

• winces
• grimaces
• frowns
• scowls
• pouts
• lowers
• squinches
• growls
• snarls
• mows
• smirks
• mouths
• sneers
• moues
• faces
• scoffs
• snoots
• simpers
• stares
• looks
• glares
• glowers
• mugs
• rictuses

Dissimilar Words

• smiles
• laughs
• grins

2

as in recoils

Related Words

• recoils
• revulsions
• withdrawals
• routs
• retirements
• disengagements
• retreats
• pullbacks
• pullouts
• recessions
• disentanglements

Dissimilar Words

• advances
• advancements

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flinches

Verb

Warner flinches not about a birthday that is often associated with the beginning of decline. — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Advertisement Throughout the narrative, Johnson never flinches in his portrayal of the wreck, unleashing footage of investigators approaching the car and the victims’ families. — Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026

Lubezki’s camera gets close to the action and never flinches, which underscores Iñarritu’s commitment to excessive mayhem at every turn. — Eric Kohn, IndieWire, 25 Feb. 2026

Cash flinches from this cascade of consequences. — Gideon Leek, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2026

Sheinbaum quickly moves away and visibly flinches as the man attempts to put his arm around her. — Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

Snakes must move incredibly quickly to sink their fangs into prey before the victim flinches. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025

Months later, Anderson, 50, still avoids crowds, doesn’t go out after dark and flinches when the doorbell rings. — USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025

Gorillas are given to these sudden displays of dominance, says our guide, Fidele Nsengiyumva, who, well-versed in their emotions, never flinches. — Noo Saro-Wiwa, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2023