quail

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as in to cringe
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word quail distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of quail are blench, flinch, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

When is it sensible to use blench instead of quail?

Although the words blench and quail have much in common, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

Where would flinch be a reasonable alternative to quail?

The meanings of flinch and quail largely overlap; however, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

When would recoil be a good substitute for quail?

The synonyms recoil and quail are sometimes interchangeable, but recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When could shrink be used to replace quail?

In some situations, the words shrink and quail are roughly equivalent. However, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

When can wince be used instead of quail?

The words wince and quail can be used in similar contexts, but wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quail
Verb
  • Financial markets recoiled, and Mr. Trump paused most, but not all, of his tariffs.
    Daisuke Wakabayashi, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • Here's the news: Some Republicans recoiled at the Trump-Musk feud.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Her post-Sisterhood career has featured roles in horror flicks (The Grudge 2), cringe comedies (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), medical dramas (House), and sitcoms (Two and a Half Men).
    EW.com, EW.com, 28 June 2025
  • Introverts build massive followings by focusing on frameworks, methods, and results without the emotional oversharing that makes most professionals cringe.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Given his winning streak, nobody would’ve flinched if Lamar framed his portion of the event as a celebration.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • But, when Wayne and Bryant’s names were called, neither flinched under the bright lights.
    Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Spieth struggled throughout his opening round and was seen wincing in pain several times, even losing hold of a club.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • Harper crumbled to one knee, wincing in anguish, as Phillies fans quaked with their worst possible nightmare — that their superstar first-baseman is seriously injured.
    Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Quail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quail. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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