Synonyms of recoil

recoil 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈkȯi(-ə)l 

as in to flinch

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust

the social worker tried not to recoil from the sight of the cockroach in the bathtub

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flinch
• wince
• cringe
• shudder
• hesitate
• shrink
• tremble
• blench
• quail
• shake
• quiver
• quake
• squinch
• pale
• crouch
• retreat
• blanch
• withdraw
• whiten
• twitch
• jerk
• falter
• recede
• reel
• waver
• retire
• start

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approach
• advance
• face
• confront
• challenge
• near
• beard
• defy

recoil

2 of 2

noun

as in revulsion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• revulsion
• flinch
• shrinking
• disengagement
• withdrawal
• rout
• retirement
• retreat
• pullout
• recession
• pullback
• disentanglement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• advancement

Synonym Chooser

How is the word recoil distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of recoil are blench, flinch, quail, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When could blench be used to replace recoil?

The words blench and recoil can be used in similar contexts, but blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

When is flinch a more appropriate choice than recoil?

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

faced her accusers without flinching

When might quail be a better fit than recoil?

While the synonyms quail and recoil are close in meaning, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

When can shrink be used instead of recoil?

While in some cases nearly identical to recoil, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

When would wince be a good substitute for recoil?

The words wince and recoil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

Examples of recoil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While some may recoil at this image or not make sense of it, Heller refuses to give these critics credence. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 21 July 2024

The result might be the reemergence of some form of authoritarianism as the country recoiled from democratic disorder. —Youwei, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2015

Noun

Otherwise, India may worry that the United States is needlessly inflaming the problem and recoil from U.S. overtures. —Lisa Curtis, Foreign Affairs, 15 Feb. 2023

This means the sim needs to vibrate at very high frequencies with that ultra-low friction and no recoil to be a realistic as possible. —Jeremy White, WIRED, 9 May 2024