recoil

verb re·coil \ ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l \

Definition of recoil

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

See recoil defined for English-language learners

See recoil defined for kids

Examples of recoil in a Sentence

We recoiled in horror at the sight of his wounded arm.
He recoiled from her touch.
The rifle recoiled and bruised my shoulder.

Recent Examples of recoil from the Web

Prestigious Academic Societies will withdraw their support, former husbands and former lovers will recoil in abject terror.

— jackson mchenry, The Cut, "Kara Walker Introduces Her Next Show With an Artist Statement About Being Fed Up With America and Artist Statements," 16 Aug. 2017
There are many reasons to choose an over/under for bird hunting despite arguments for an autoloader, which provides more shots, less recoil and a lighter-weight option.

— author: christine cunningham, Alaska Dispatch News, "Gearing up for another bird-hunting season in Alaska," 16 Aug. 2017
When something sends a nucleus recoiling in a crystal, even just a bit, the crystal produces a small, but detectable flash of light.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Milk jug–sized detector captures neutrinos in a whole new way," 3 Aug. 2017
Moderate governments that may sympathise with their arguments on the single market will recoil from association with countries in the grip of populism.

— The Economist, "Emmanuel Macron is revitalising the European Union—and dividing it," 20 July 2017
The trainees are equipped with a variety of tools including training firearms that recoil and weigh the same as an authentic firearm would.

— tyler lewis, CBS News, "Virtual reality helps reinvent law enforcement training," 14 July 2017
His 4-year-old sister used to have nightmares and recoil in fear when her baby doll was left alone on the floor — signs her therapists say suggest memories of neglect.

— Washington Post, "How severe, ongoing stress can affect a child’s brain," 12 July 2017
While some of you might be recoiling in horror at the thought, transferring poop was no messier than giving a cat any other pill.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "I gave my cat a poop transplant—here’s what happened next," 9 July 2017
By virtue of the larger case and the need to control recoil, Magnums tend to be heavier.

— steve meyer, Alaska Dispatch News, "Despite recoil, Magnum rifles deliver potency and velocity," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recoil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of recoil

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

recoil Synonyms

Synonyms

blench, cringe, quail, flinch, 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

Synonym Discussion of 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

recoil

noun re·coil \ ˈrē-ˌkȯi(-ə)l , ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l \

Definition of recoil

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

See recoil defined for English-language learners

Examples of recoil in a Sentence

The gun has a sharp recoil.

Recent Examples of recoil from the Web

As the summer progressed, Lorenzen began focusing too much on the recoil at the expense of pitch extension.

— zach buchanan, Cincinnati.com, "Michael Lorenzen: ‘I’m learning how to pitch now’," 18 Aug. 2017
That includes a group led by Leo Stodolsky, a physicist and director emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich, Germany, which is developing cryogenic detectors that can spot nuclear recoils with far lower energies.

— adrian cho, Science | AAAS, "Milk jug–sized detector captures neutrinos in a whole new way," 3 Aug. 2017
But rather than delivering on that promise, their tenures seem to have triggered a dramatic recoil against parity in politics, according to the New York Times.

— claire zillman, Fortune, "The World’s Most Powerful Women: July 25," 25 July 2017
Larry was a pioneer in the sport of handgun hunting and revolutionized porting handguns and shotguns in an effort to reduce recoil and muzzle jump.

— lydia lohrer, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame an idea whose time has come," 1 July 2017
There is no recoil and the dart flies more like an arrow from a bow than a bullet.

— david mckenzie, CNN, "The big move," 29 June 2017
The brake doesn’t hold and the recoil rolls the gun up the back of my leg, throwing me flat on my face.

— ray cocks, Longreads, "From a Hawk to a Dove," 29 May 2017
The collective recoil against the move prompted urgent meetings among Trump's aides to manage the fallout.

— kevin liptak, CNN, "Inside James Comey's seismic firing," 10 May 2017
Herewith some pertinent questions: Lincoln’s greatness began with his recoil from the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, which empowered residents of those territories to decide whether to have slavery.

— george will, Twin Cities, "George Will: Questions for Judge Gorsuch," 19 Mar. 2017

First Known Use of recoil

14th century

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

RECOIL Defined for English Language Learners

recoil

verb

Definition of recoil for English Language Learners

: to quickly move away from something that is shocking, frightening, or disgusting : to react to something with shock or fear
of a gun : to move back suddenly when fired

recoil

noun

Definition of recoil for English Language Learners

: the sudden backward movement of a gun that happens when the gun is fired

RECOIL Defined for Kids

recoil

verb re·coil \ ri-ˈkȯil \

Definition of recoil for Students

recoiled; recoiling

1 :to draw back

He recoiled in horror.

2 :to spring back to or as if to a starting position

The rifle recoiled upon firing.

recoil

noun

Definition of recoil for Students

:a sudden backward movement or springing back (as of a gun just fired)

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See words that rhyme with recoil Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recoil Spanish Central: Translation of recoil Nglish: Translation of recoil for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of recoil for Arabic speakers

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Synonym Discussion of recoil

recoil

Definition of recoil

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Other Military Terms

RECOIL Defined for English Language Learners

recoil

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recoil

Definition of recoil for English Language Learners

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recoil

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