as in to wince
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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2
as in recoil
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of flinch
Barbara Bry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Snakes must move incredibly quickly to sink their fangs into prey before the victim flinches.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flinch
Verb
Sharen Gibson, 72, never flinched.
—Barbara Bry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Snakes must move incredibly quickly to sink their fangs into prey before the victim flinches.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
The shock of it made her flinch.
—Bryan Washington, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinch
Verb
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In a video of the incident, Tricia lets out a loud scream and winces as the champagne drips from her hair, into her eyes and onto her face.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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The actress was shown wincing in pain before being escorted out of the ballroom on a stretcher into an ambulance.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Will, in response, contorts his entire face into a terrible grimace.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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Thomas turned around and squeezed DeChambeau’s leg with anxiety, his face in a nervous grimace.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The rifle weighs up to 120 pounds with massive muzzle brakes, producing more than 200 foot-pounds of recoil.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t just adding parts to guns to increase damage or lessen recoil either; there’s room for some really funky experiments provided the right items are found.—
Jason Fanelli,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Encouraged to see Jones sorta respond, Mackie kept babbling on and on and on about his dad, unaware that everyone else in the room was cringing.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
25 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t the first time that Guthrie has publicly cringed over having to ask the question.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If only humans kept their expressions to cartoonishly clear frowns and smiles.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
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How to Watch North Carolina at Syracuse Bill Belichick’s first season as North Carolina head coach is winding to a whimpering close, but an ACC win over Syracuse under the Friday Night Lights would sure turn some frowns upside down at Chapel Hill.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, who otherwise has humored Trump at every turn, has expressed revulsion at the idea of a pardon.—
Robin Abcarian,
Mercury News,
29 Oct. 2025
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The move follows widespread public revulsion over the attacks in the UK.—
Sophie Tanno,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If Simmons’ Demon was Kiss’ scowl, then Frehley’s Spaceman was its cackle.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
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After a beat, Eilish is seen yanking herself away and storms off, surrounded by security with an angry scowl on her face.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Everything bops breezily along, stopping occasionally to have Dek growl maxims about strength through domination, and observe a decapitation or two.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
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Joe’s raspy growl and Nick’s smoother tone contrast nicely and meet in the middle of the groovy, soulful pop-rock lane the group’s newer music occupies.—
Heather Bushman,
IndyStar,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinch. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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