See More

Some common synonyms of flinch<\/em> are blench<\/em><\/a>, quail<\/em><\/a>, recoil<\/em><\/a>, shrink<\/em><\/a>, and wince<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to draw back in fear or distaste,\" flinch<\/em> implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.<\/p>

\/\/ faced her accusers without flinching<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'blench' be used instead of 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to flinch<\/em>, blench<\/em><\/a> implies fainthearted flinching.<\/p>

\/\/ stood their ground without blenching<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'quail' be a good substitute for 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words quail<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail<\/em> suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.<\/p>

\/\/ quailed<\/em> before the apparition<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'recoil' take the place of 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words recoil<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, recoil<\/em> implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.<\/p>

\/\/ recoiled<\/em> at the suggestion of stealing<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'shrink' be a better fit than 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms shrink<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> are close in meaning, shrink<\/em> suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.<\/p>

\/\/ shrank<\/em> from the unpleasant truth<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'wince' a more appropriate choice than 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words wince<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> have much in common, wince<\/em> suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).<\/p>

\/\/ winced<\/em> in pain<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is the word 'flinch' distinct from other similar verbs?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Some common synonyms of flinch<\/em> are blench<\/em><\/a>, quail<\/em><\/a>, recoil<\/em><\/a>, shrink<\/em><\/a>, and wince<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to draw back in fear or distaste,\" flinch<\/em> implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.<\/p>

\/\/ faced her accusers without flinching<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'blench' be used instead of 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to flinch<\/em>, blench<\/em><\/a> implies fainthearted flinching.<\/p>

\/\/ stood their ground without blenching<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'quail' be a good substitute for 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words quail<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail<\/em> suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.<\/p>

\/\/ quailed<\/em> before the apparition<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'recoil' take the place of 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words recoil<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, recoil<\/em> implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.<\/p>

\/\/ recoiled<\/em> at the suggestion of stealing<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'shrink' be a better fit than 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms shrink<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> are close in meaning, shrink<\/em> suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.<\/p>

\/\/ shrank<\/em> from the unpleasant truth<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is 'wince' a more appropriate choice than 'flinch'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words wince<\/em><\/a> and flinch<\/em> have much in common, wince<\/em> suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).<\/p>

\/\/ winced<\/em> in pain<\/p>" } } ] }

flinch 1 of 2

verb

ˈflinch How to pronounce flinch (audio)
Definition of flinchnext
as in to wince
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flinch

2 of 2

noun

1
as in wince

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in recoil

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word flinch distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of flinch are blench, quail, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

When can blench be used instead of flinch?

While in some cases nearly identical to flinch, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

When would quail be a good substitute for flinch?

The words quail and flinch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

In what contexts can recoil take the place of flinch?

In some situations, the words recoil and flinch are roughly equivalent. However, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When might shrink be a better fit than flinch?

While the synonyms shrink and flinch are close in meaning, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

When is wince a more appropriate choice than flinch?

Although the words wince and flinch have much in common, wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

How is the word flinch distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of flinch are blench, quail, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

When can blench be used instead of flinch?

While in some cases nearly identical to flinch, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

When would quail be a good substitute for flinch?

The words quail and flinch are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

In what contexts can recoil take the place of flinch?

In some situations, the words recoil and flinch are roughly equivalent. However, recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When might shrink be a better fit than flinch?

While the synonyms shrink and flinch are close in meaning, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

When is wince a more appropriate choice than flinch?

Although the words wince and flinch have much in common, 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 flinch
Verb
Everyone in the barber shop flinched at the sound and tensed their shoulders. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026 Bev had seemed to flinch whenever Margot derided their husbands. —Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
Not a wound, an internal flinch. —Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 So many terrible things happen that the reader develops a kind of flinch, bracing for the next calamity whenever there is a brief lull in the misery. —Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flinch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinch
  1. wince
  2. grimace
  3. recoil
  4. cringe
  5. frown
  6. revulsion
  7. scowl
  8. growl
Verb
  • Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Forrest pushed it and winced as tear gas sprayed.
    — James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of wince
Noun
  • In the video, Claffey tries to move Ansell away from the subject and grimaces at the camera when his costar seems to say a little too much.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Feb. 2026
  • After Malinin botched his final free in the singles competition, Cowan kept his distance as the skater crumbled into a grimace of abject disappointment.
    — Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of grimace
Noun
  • David asks whether the country can find a way back from a dangerous moral and political impasse, as a majority of Americans recoil from these actions while a determined minority continue to defend them.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Fans recoil at the idea of betrayal.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of recoil
Verb
  • The irony is that Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy would be the first person to cringe at all the attention being placed on her Levi’s jeans and basic white button-downs.
    — Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
  • There was a time when Lauren Conrad would cringe looking back at MTV's groundbreaking reality series Laguna Beach.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of cringe
Noun
  • Not a quiver in his lips, yet his frown growing.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
  • My best friend Russell is an acupuncturist, and seemed like the perfect person to place my tape, slapping it on my frown lines, crow’s-feet, and nasolabial folds.
    — Lena Dunham, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2025
Definition of frown
Noun
  • Dahl’s revulsion at the violence committed in Israel’s name is at once comprehensible, in and of itself, and rooted in Dahl’s set of antisemitic beliefs.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026
  • The scene plays out as if the actors are politely averting their eyes while performing, without conjuring the deep moral revulsion Wolfe and LaChiusa might’ve intended.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of revulsion
Noun
  • May wears a smile more often than not, while Underwood is more associated with a perpetual scowl.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Despite having her arms almost permanently crossed and a scowl on her face, Ivy eventually starts to warm up, especially to her cheerful, horny-as-a-chihuahua cabin-mate Ella (Ruby Stokes, recently seen in Bridgerton and The Burning Girls).
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of scowl
Noun
  • There was no growl, no warning bark.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
  • There was no growl, no buildup — just sudden contact.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of growl

Browse Nearby Words

flimsy
flinch
flinched
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flinch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinch. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flinch

Nglish: Translation of flinch for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dross

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Mar. 27

Why do we call it a 'pipe dream'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little boy with a magnifying glass looking at footprints
Quiz: Spot the Misspelled Word! Think you can detect a spelling error from a mile...
See All