as in flinching
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 recoiling
His most intense fans may revel in his displays of dominance, but his least attached supporters—the ones who turned him from a loser in 2020 to a winner in 2024—are recoiling.
—
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Now, at least some signs are emerging that both the broader public and leading liberal voices may be recoiling from the doom and gloom.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Did that also include Jess endearing himself to Rory before recoiling and ghosting?
—Justin Kirkland, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
While angioplasties were helpful, one of the main limitations was that the walls of the artery would quickly shrink back – known as recoiling – after the balloon was deflated.
—William Cornwell, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Bassist Franz Lyons, standing nearby onstage, is seen recoiling and shielding his eyes from the dispersing spray.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Americans are recoiling from the Democratic Party, and even in blue states like Colorado, Democrats are feeling the burn.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
And the supporters who responded to his complaints about overzealous Democrats aren’t recoiling.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Now, at least some signs are emerging that both the broader public and leading liberal voices may be recoiling from the doom and gloom.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Did that also include Jess endearing himself to Rory before recoiling and ghosting?
—Justin Kirkland, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
While angioplasties were helpful, one of the main limitations was that the walls of the artery would quickly shrink back – known as recoiling – after the balloon was deflated.
—William Cornwell, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Bassist Franz Lyons, standing nearby onstage, is seen recoiling and shielding his eyes from the dispersing spray.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Americans are recoiling from the Democratic Party, and even in blue states like Colorado, Democrats are feeling the burn.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
And the supporters who responded to his complaints about overzealous Democrats aren’t recoiling.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Twin Cities, 6 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recoiling
Verb
-
Many critics are now calling out CBS for flinching rather than forcefully standing up to politically motivated intimidation.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
And Bobby’s just not flinching.—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Michelle Yeoh is wincing at the thought of collecting her honorary Golden Bear here in Berlin.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recoiling. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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