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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Recent Examples of flinching
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
Human reflexes naturally protect the eyes; blinking, tearing, and flinching are some of the fastest human reflexes.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
Ross passed the day's examination with flying colors – barely flinching at the rubber chicken.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
Skubal, apparently flinching with the noise, balked for only the second time in his career.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Your stronger body will give you the confidence that comes from moving without flinching.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Share relevant proof that mirrors their situation, name your price without flinching, and close with one clear question.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The Colorado Rapids aren’t flinching in the midst of a wild summer transfer window.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2025
Zoe Gowen, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Human reflexes naturally protect the eyes; blinking, tearing, and flinching are some of the fastest human reflexes.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
Ross passed the day's examination with flying colors – barely flinching at the rubber chicken.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 6 Oct. 2025
Skubal, apparently flinching with the noise, balked for only the second time in his career.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Your stronger body will give you the confidence that comes from moving without flinching.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Share relevant proof that mirrors their situation, name your price without flinching, and close with one clear question.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
The Colorado Rapids aren’t flinching in the midst of a wild summer transfer window.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinching
Verb
-
Wind roared through the open doorway and into the vestibule where I was pressed against the side, wincing at the noise.—
Monisha Rajesh,
Outside,
9 Dec. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
His most intense fans may revel in his displays of dominance, but his least attached supporters—the ones who turned him from a loser in 2020 to a winner in 2024—are recoiling.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In it, her fellow students can be seen gasping, covering their faces and cringing.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Flinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinching. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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