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flinch

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of flinch

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
  • There are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle.
Synonyms of flinch

blench, cringe, quail, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince
Words Related to flinch

blanch, pale, whiten

quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble

crouch

jerk, start, twitch

recede, retire, retreat, withdraw

falter, hesitate, reel, waver
Near Antonyms of flinch

advance, approach, near

beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

Synonym Discussion of flinch

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

Learn More about flinch

  1. See words that rhyme with flinch Dictionary: Definition of 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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