re·coil
ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l 
recoiled; recoiling; recoils
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
re·coil
ˈrē-ˌkȯi(-ə)l
ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l
Synonyms
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
Kieran Setiya, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2023
Investors recoiled at the news, sending the stock plummeting 19% and handing Zaslav his worst trading day in two years.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2023
The marketing guy recoiled and said the figure was way too high and in no way could it be justified.
—Lily Moayeri, Spin, 5 Oct. 2023
The force of the shot pushes the cannon back about two feet into the dirt, despite equipment that mitigates recoil.
—Hope Hodge Seck, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023
Mark Kelly As the world recoils from the horrors Hamas has inflicted on Israel, India’s left-of-center opposition Congress Party offers a valuable lesson in how not to respond to Islamist terrorism.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2023
Many people recoil at the notion of solar geoengineering, or solar radiation management (SRM), as it's often called.
—Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023
Every post–Cold War president has recoiled from this role.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
And in recent months Beijing has been at pains to frame itself as a proponent of peace in the conflict in Ukraine – part of a bid to win back lost goodwill in Europe, which has recoiled over Beijing’s decision to continue to strengthen its ties with Russia despite its war.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023
Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023
As the Korean War began, the M1, which was made of wood and steel and weighed almost ten pounds, was proving to be an insufficient weapon for modern warfare, heavy and cumbersome and with a shoulder-knocking recoil.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
The ideal dove gun for most people is probably a 20-gauge gas semiauto, a gun that sends enough shot to take doves cleanly to 30 or more yards, and with very little recoil.
—Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 4 May 2023
One video, with the claws un-deployed, shows an MT-LB roll back several feet from the recoil after discharging its 100-millimeter gun, which is not great for second-round accuracy.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 2 Sep. 2023
The recoil comes in that like, I, my taxpayer money pays for your salary, but hey, go ahead, retire, collect this pension, which is a lot better than my retirement’s ever gonna be based on your last five years of service, and then keep going back and doing the same job.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2023
Single-shot shotguns are notorious for their recoil, and this gun is no exception.
—Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023
The piercing recoil of the board calls on spectators and competitors eagerly anticipating his mid-air pirouettes and gyrations.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
Reduced recoil is likely a significant reason for the .308 Winchester’s reputation for accuracy.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 5 July 2023
See More
Verb
Sapolsky is one of many who recoil from this impulse.
—Kieran Setiya, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2023
Investors recoiled at the news, sending the stock plummeting 19% and handing Zaslav his worst trading day in two years.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 Nov. 2023
The marketing guy recoiled and said the figure was way too high and in no way could it be justified.
—Lily Moayeri, Spin, 5 Oct. 2023
The force of the shot pushes the cannon back about two feet into the dirt, despite equipment that mitigates recoil.
—Hope Hodge Seck, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023
Mark Kelly As the world recoils from the horrors Hamas has inflicted on Israel, India’s left-of-center opposition Congress Party offers a valuable lesson in how not to respond to Islamist terrorism.
—Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 11 Oct. 2023
Many people recoil at the notion of solar geoengineering, or solar radiation management (SRM), as it's often called.
—Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023
Every post–Cold War president has recoiled from this role.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
And in recent months Beijing has been at pains to frame itself as a proponent of peace in the conflict in Ukraine – part of a bid to win back lost goodwill in Europe, which has recoiled over Beijing’s decision to continue to strengthen its ties with Russia despite its war.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023
Noun
Long enough for the rifle’s recoil to dissipate and for his watchful eye to readjust in the scope, framing the show of his own violence.
—Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 21 Oct. 2023
As the Korean War began, the M1, which was made of wood and steel and weighed almost ten pounds, was proving to be an insufficient weapon for modern warfare, heavy and cumbersome and with a shoulder-knocking recoil.
—Emily Witt, The New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2023
The ideal dove gun for most people is probably a 20-gauge gas semiauto, a gun that sends enough shot to take doves cleanly to 30 or more yards, and with very little recoil.
—Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 4 May 2023
One video, with the claws un-deployed, shows an MT-LB roll back several feet from the recoil after discharging its 100-millimeter gun, which is not great for second-round accuracy.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 2 Sep. 2023
The recoil comes in that like, I, my taxpayer money pays for your salary, but hey, go ahead, retire, collect this pension, which is a lot better than my retirement’s ever gonna be based on your last five years of service, and then keep going back and doing the same job.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2023
Single-shot shotguns are notorious for their recoil, and this gun is no exception.
—Tony Hansen, Outdoor Life, 22 June 2023
The piercing recoil of the board calls on spectators and competitors eagerly anticipating his mid-air pirouettes and gyrations.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
Reduced recoil is likely a significant reason for the .308 Winchester’s reputation for accuracy.
—Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 5 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recoil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of recoil was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing recoil
Dictionary Entries Near recoil
Cite this Entry
“Recoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recoil. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on recoil
Nglish: Translation of recoil for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of recoil for Arabic Speakers
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