quail

quail

verb

Definition of QUAIL

1

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust <we quailed when the waiter unexpectedly presented us with a hindquarter of frog's legs>

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

2

to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission <brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand>

Synonyms cringe, grovel, quail

Related Words flinch, recoil, shrink, squinch; blanch, blench, whiten; fawn, kowtow, toady