Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up flinch? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

prestigious

esteemed in general opinion

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. feckless Former RNC chair derides Trump

  2. emergency, national emergency Trump declares crisis over wall

  3. apoplectic Bezos writes post about Pecker

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games