as in winced
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle
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Recent Examples of flinched
The last time Congress faced a deadline to extend government funding, Senate Democrats flinched, giving Republicans the votes needed to avert a government shutdown without extracting any concessions.
—
Nik Popli, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
However, Machado flinched as the ball approached and then zipped past his glove.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Nik Popli, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
However, Machado flinched as the ball approached and then zipped past his glove.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinched
Verb
-
As detailed in Tina Fey’s 2011 memoir, Bossypants, Jimmy Fallon, who was also in the show’s cast at the time, jokingly recoiled and told Poehler to stop it.—
Anna Holmes,
The Atlantic,
21 Aug. 2025
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Markets recoiled, and in just one week the S&P 500 plunged more than 12 percent while both Value and Growth stocks suffered double-digit percentage losses.—
John Buckingham,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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During a hospital stay, Roy’s enfeebled mother fixates on the caste and religious affiliations of the doctors treating her—the sort of thing that will be familiar to anyone who has cringed at a diminished elder’s unfiltered prejudices.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For much of last season, Atletico appeared set to seriously compete on all fronts, but their season shuddered to a stop in March with a series of disappointing defeats by Barcelona and Madrid across La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Champions League.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
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The van shuddered, shifted gear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinched. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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