as in flinched
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
the social worker tried not to recoil from the sight of the cockroach in the bathtub
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Recent Examples of recoiled
In a flash, the Avs veteran flew right into a sprawling, helpless Ingram, who recoiled at the contact.
—
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
After decades of being kissed up to by massive government support, our fossil fuel industries recoiled against President Joe Biden’s support to grow our clean energy sector.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Software stocks on Thursday slid deeper into an ongoing intense sell-off this year as investors recoiled from the sector on growing fears that artificial intelligence could upend many firms' business models.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
The citizenry has broadly recoiled; her killing, in addition to being a human tragedy, has been a public relations disaster for the administration.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Generations of scientists, perhaps all with Great Aunt Mildreds who recoiled at the noise, have looked into whether cracking truly bad for our joints or overall health.
—Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Football fans needed time to accommodate themselves to Patrick Mahomes’s sidearm throws, as did the baseball fans who at first recoiled from Hideo Nomo’s tornado windup.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
Both Fiennes and Fassbender delivered turns that critics deemed essential; both played characters so morally repugnant that voters may have recoiled from endorsing them.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025
Blazy, a Parisian born and bred, recoiled from the claim.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
After decades of being kissed up to by massive government support, our fossil fuel industries recoiled against President Joe Biden’s support to grow our clean energy sector.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters Software stocks on Thursday slid deeper into an ongoing intense sell-off this year as investors recoiled from the sector on growing fears that artificial intelligence could upend many firms' business models.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
The citizenry has broadly recoiled; her killing, in addition to being a human tragedy, has been a public relations disaster for the administration.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Generations of scientists, perhaps all with Great Aunt Mildreds who recoiled at the noise, have looked into whether cracking truly bad for our joints or overall health.
—Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026
Football fans needed time to accommodate themselves to Patrick Mahomes’s sidearm throws, as did the baseball fans who at first recoiled from Hideo Nomo’s tornado windup.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 25 Dec. 2025
Both Fiennes and Fassbender delivered turns that critics deemed essential; both played characters so morally repugnant that voters may have recoiled from endorsing them.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 Dec. 2025
Blazy, a Parisian born and bred, recoiled from the claim.
—Nathan Heller, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recoiled
Verb
-
Even as Michigan State came roaring back in the second half, cutting the lead to just two in the final minute, UCLA never flinched.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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After hearing their parents lay it out, none of the Smith kids — Lilly, Eli, Maggie, Brice, Wilson or Jesse — flinched at the idea of helping their baby sister.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Forrest pushed it and winced as tear gas sprayed.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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The issue became apparent at 4-4 in the third set, when Alcaraz winced after stretching for a volley and a match that had appeared a foregone conclusion spun on its axis.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe joined The View Thursday for an interview about his role in the new NBC comedy The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, the superstar cringed when the show cued up a clip of one of his early auditions to play the boy wizard.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
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Auriemma cringed at the suggestion this team was better than last year’s.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recoiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recoiled. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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