recoil

1 of 2

verb

re·​coil ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l 

recoiled; recoiling; recoils

intransitive verb

1

a

: to fall back under pressure

b

: to shrink back physically or emotionally

2

: to spring back to or as if to a starting point : rebound

3

obsolete : degenerate

recoil

2 of 2

noun

re·​coil ˈrē-ˌkȯi(-ə)l 

ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l

1

: the act or action of recoiling

especially : the kickback of a gun upon firing

2

: reaction

the recoil from the rigors of Calvinism

—Edmund Wilson

Synonyms

Verb

• blench
• cringe
• flinch
• quail
• shrink
• squinch
• wince

Choose the Right Synonym for recoil

recoil, shrink, flinch, wince, blench, quail mean to draw back in fear or distaste.

recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

Examples of recoil in a Sentence

Verb

We recoiled in horror at the sight of his wounded arm.

He recoiled from her touch.

The rifle recoiled and bruised my shoulder.

Noun

The gun has a sharp recoil.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Within hours, markets recoiled, and prediction platforms began pricing in a grim new outlook. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025

Upon contact, Goldberg recoiled, and Sara Haines clutched her own chest after being hit with emotional shrapnel. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Noun

Specifically, the recoil resulting from the merger of the two black holes 10 million years ago may explain aspects of Sgr A*'s motion seen in the present day. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025

The recoil is enough to knock a drone off course and may cause the operator to lose sight of the target. —David Hambling, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English reculen, recoilen, from Anglo-French reculer, recuiler, from re- + cul backside — more at culet

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing recoil

• recoil-operated

Rhymes for recoil

• airfoil
• benzoyl
• despoil
• embroil
• etoile
• gargoyle
• subsoil
• tinfoil
• topsoil
• trefoil
• turmoil
• aerofoil

Kids Definition

recoil

1 of 2 verb

re·​coil ri-ˈkȯi(ə)l 

1

a

: to fall back under pressure : retreat

b

: to shrink back

recoil in horror

2

: to spring back to or as if to a starting point

the compressed spring recoiled upon release

the big gun recoiled upon firing

recoil

2 of 2 noun

re·​coil ˈrē-ˌkȯil 

ri-ˈkȯi(ə)l

1

: the act or action of recoiling

2

: the distance through which something (as a spring) recoils