Definition of flinch
intransitive verb
: to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain : wince He flinched when he was presented with the car repair bill.; also : to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort I cannot help flinching when I hear the dentist's drill.
flinch
nounflincher
nounPeople Are Reading
Examples of flinch in a Sentence
He flinched when I tapped him on the shoulder.
She met danger without flinching.
The bill was much higher than expected, but he paid it without flinching.
Recent Examples of flinch from the Web
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More perturbing than the children who shriek at the bombardment around them are those who barely flinch.
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The 24-year-old Chicagoan flinched noticeably when the sparks and fire blasted into the air, then made a nervous joke about the fiery fate that almost befell him.
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Alan Bates, 30, flinched, cursed McCord and fell beside his wife.
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Beaten, tortured, cut, and burned, if the adolescents even flinch or let out a peep, they are labeled a coward and forbidden from mating, earning a good wage, or rising in society.
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Maher praised Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren for speaking out, but said other Democrats too often flinch on the issues and thus lose elections.
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Their ability to strike a match and score five runs had made other pitchers flinch all season.
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On Sunday morning, amid the threat of rain, thunder and lightning, the Korean War veteran jumped out of an airplane without flinching.
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Each flinched in the face of Koepka’s relentless steadiness.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flinch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology 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
Synonym Discussion of flinch
FLINCH Defined for English Language Learners
flinch
playDefinition of flinch for English Language Learners
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: to move suddenly because you are afraid of being hit or hurt
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: to show fear : to hesitate from doing something unpleasant or dangerous
FLINCH Defined for Kids
flinch
playDefinition of flinch for Students
flinched
;flinching
: to draw back from or as if from pain or fear … Homily did not flinch as the great face came slowly closer. — Mary Norton, The Borrowers
Learn More about flinch
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See words that rhyme with flinch Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flinch Spanish Central: Translation of flinch Nglish: Translation of flinch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flinch for Arabic speakers
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