recoil 1 of 2

recoil

2 of 2

noun

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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of recoil
Verb
Behar then reached over and touched Goldberg's breast, prompting the actress to recoil. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2025 The air is thick with salt and mildew, the buildings warped and leaning, as if recoiling from what sleeps offshore. David Jagneaux, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Noun
But should the White House recoil from the Five Eyes, the remaining members could forge ahead with beefing up bilateral agreements on intelligence sharing between individual countries. Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025 When material is blown off the comet's surface, there is a rocket-like recoil that provides the nongravitational acceleration on top of their orbits, which are already set by the gravitational pull of the sun. Darryl Seligman, Space.com, 7 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recoil
Verb
  • Tamar Braxton has never been one to flinch at the truth.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 5 May 2025
  • But rookie Gwyneth Philips hasn’t flinched in Maschmeyer’s absence.
    Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • They’re made to live as subjects of revulsion by day and secret objects of desire by night, all while risking sudden turns toward brutality born from vulnerable self-loathing.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 May 2025
  • Racial attitudes among Dixon’s Disciples in the 1920s varied widely between a paternal tolerance of blacks (in tune with the founding beliefs of the church) to Ku Klux Klan-like racist revulsion that was widespread in its day.
    Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Others lowered themselves from a ladder, wincing all the way.
    Julia Whelan Emma Kehlbeck Jeremy McLennan, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • As the trailer depicts, the shame of his past follows him into Thunderbolts*, with the character wincing over bad press about him in the newspaper.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 2 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recoil. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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