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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flinched
Credit card APRs are still parked near record highs, after all, and rates on mortgages and many other loan products have barely flinched, meaning there are big affordability challenges for those who need to borrow money in today's landscape.
—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Up to that point, neither team’s starting pitcher had flinched.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
The moose flinched and stiffened.
—
Fred Bear,
Outdoor Life,
11 June 2026
One participant flinched, as if struck.
—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
The executive producer and star points to earlier moments in the season, like when Ruben flinched at the sight of his dad through his bedroom window.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
However, Wall Street hasn’t flinched.
—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Smalley finally flinched with a devastating double bogey.
—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Meta Platforms is splashing some serious cash on AI infrastructure, and investors have flinched.
—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Up to that point, neither team’s starting pitcher had flinched.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
The moose flinched and stiffened.
—
Fred Bear,
Outdoor Life,
11 June 2026
One participant flinched, as if struck.
—
Yoni Appelbaum,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
The executive producer and star points to earlier moments in the season, like when Ruben flinched at the sight of his dad through his bedroom window.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
However, Wall Street hasn’t flinched.
—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Smalley finally flinched with a devastating double bogey.
—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Meta Platforms is splashing some serious cash on AI infrastructure, and investors have flinched.
—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinched
Verb
-
James stretched his neck and winced.
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The Republican Congress — filled with Netanyahu fans and hawks eager to align with Israel — winced.
Verb
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Markets recoiled for a moment, then kept climbing, the Nasdaq tripling before the decade was out.
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And when the Walmart collaboration arrived in 2007 — a full collection at twenty dollars and under — the industry recoiled once again.
Verb
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Mingione cringed when asked if any of his players had gotten hurt by a hit by pitch.
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For a decade, viewers have cringed at Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke’s rocky relationship, the dénouement of which is currently playing out on season ten of Summer House.
Cite this Entry
“Flinched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinched. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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