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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flinched
But none of the band members ever flinched over the divide that formed over their pre- and post-Vheissu sound.
—
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
These images of an expanding Kong appeared on the screen and the actors on stage in front of it flinched in horror as the dwarfing image of Kong’s bigness loomed menacingly behind them.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
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
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
These images of an expanding Kong appeared on the screen and the actors on stage in front of it flinched in horror as the dwarfing image of Kong’s bigness loomed menacingly behind them.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinched
Verb
-
Russell winced, remembering the backlash.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Blazy, a Parisian born and bred, recoiled from the claim.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Some recoiled at the launch and others quit their positions.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Earth shuddered with yet another wave of extinctions in this initial chill.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Flinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinched. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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