as in wincing
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 flinching
The Alpha Wave acquisition suggests the Gulf’s biggest dealmakers aren’t flinching at opportunities in the US or being slowed by the war in Iran.
—
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Freeny absorbed the impact like Marvin Hagler, hardly flinching and brushing it off.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Many critics are now calling out CBS for flinching rather than forcefully standing up to politically motivated intimidation.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
And Bobby’s just not flinching.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Amanda, who also had an affair with Oliver, backs up the lie without flinching.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
The Waymo absorbs this without flinching.
—Greg Mania, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
The movie’s real sympathetic figure is Hall, played by Dacre Montgomery, who spends most of the movie cringing and flinching, while trying not to move.
—Mick Lasalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2026
In this Tudor renovation, designer Barrie Benson combined 10 different textiles and prints in a single, orderly viewpoint without flinching.
—Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Freeny absorbed the impact like Marvin Hagler, hardly flinching and brushing it off.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Many critics are now calling out CBS for flinching rather than forcefully standing up to politically motivated intimidation.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
And Bobby’s just not flinching.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Amanda, who also had an affair with Oliver, backs up the lie without flinching.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
The Waymo absorbs this without flinching.
—Greg Mania, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
The movie’s real sympathetic figure is Hall, played by Dacre Montgomery, who spends most of the movie cringing and flinching, while trying not to move.
—Mick Lasalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2026
In this Tudor renovation, designer Barrie Benson combined 10 different textiles and prints in a single, orderly viewpoint without flinching.
—Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinching
Verb
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Coinbase’s effort, filled with little nuances and created to emulate the experience of a videogame, might have people welcoming another look rather than recoiling at seeing the spot for the 15th time in a period of just a few days.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The movie’s real sympathetic figure is Hall, played by Dacre Montgomery, who spends most of the movie cringing and flinching, while trying not to move.—
Mick LaSalle,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In it, her fellow students can be seen gasping, covering their faces and cringing.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinching. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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