Flinch, recoil, and wince are all synonyms of quail, but each word has a slightly different use. When you flinch, you fail to endure pain or to face something dangerous or frightening with resolution ("she faced her accusers without flinching"). Recoil implies a start or movement away from something through shock, fear, or disgust ("he recoiled at the suggestion of stealing"). Wince usually suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction to something ("she winced as the bright light suddenly hit her eyes"). Quail implies shrinking and cowering in fear ("he quailed before the apparition").
Noun
We had quail for dinner. Verb
Other politicians quailed before him.
He quailed at the thought of seeing her again.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Since all of the waste is removed, that means anything spilled from the feeders is cleaned up by ground birds, such as dove, quail and towhees.—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025 The outdoor areas are open from March through October, but available year-round is its Bolz Conservatory, a glass pyramid housing huge tropical plants, chirping canaries and darting quail.—Peter Cameron, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hosts the hunt for youth who are interested in learning how to quail hunt, who have not previously had the opportunity to participate in a hunt and who do not have someone to serve as a hunting mentor.—Arkansas Online, 26 Aug. 2025 The couple, who've operated a homestead with turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and quail in the area for about three years, said high floodwaters that swept in during Helene damaged their home's foundation, separating their bedroom from the rest of the house.—Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quail
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English quaile, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin quaccula, of imitative origin
Share