quailed

past tense of quail
1
2
as in cringed
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quailed
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • Mingione cringed when asked if any of his players had gotten hurt by a hit by pitch.
    Mitch Light, New York Times, 22 May 2026
  • 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.
    Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Markets recoiled for a moment, then kept climbing, the Nasdaq tripling before the decade was out.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • And when the Walmart collaboration arrived in 2007 — a full collection at twenty dollars and under — the industry recoiled once again.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • James stretched his neck and winced.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
  • The Republican Congress — filled with Netanyahu fans and hawks eager to align with Israel — winced.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 June 2026
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

“Quailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quailed. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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