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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in recoil

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
With the game on the line, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson didn’t flinch. —Don Yaeger, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025 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 Flashing strobes, toxic symbols and haunting moodiness aside, Kraftwerk barely flinched. —Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 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
  • Goertzel winced, because the question is challenging.
    — Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Not just my face but also the faces of all middle-aged women who foolishly smiled, laughed, winced, frowned or squinted between birth and the year 2025.
    — Gwen Rockwood, Arkansas Online, 22 May 2025
Definition of wince
Noun
  • Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Monday’s developments were greeted with grimace around town.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of grimace
Noun
  • Such interactions between black holes or neutron stars (compact remnants of exploded massive stars) can be studied through the deflection angle, the energy released through the near miss and the momentum of the objects’ recoil—all of which may be discerned in gravitational waves.
    — Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 13 May 2025
  • This disruption of the sextet sets the rest of the story in motion, as everyone reacts and recoils, prompted to judge one another and themselves.
    — Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Definition of recoil
Verb
  • The mullet was all the rage in the 1970s and 1980s, and many people who had that hairstyle often cringe, laugh or both when looking at pictures of themselves from those days.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2025
  • That clip, featuring Jennifer rapping along without missing a beat while her daughter cringes, drew another 1 million views and more than 50,200 likes.
    — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
Definition of cringe
Noun
  • Shuffling feet, frowns or darting eyes signal discomfort and anxiety.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Below are some of the stocks JPMorgan frowns on: Vaccine maker Novavax is rated underweight by JPMorgan analysts.
    — Pia Singh, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of frown
Noun
  • The recognition of their similarity seems to breed revulsion, not solidarity.
    — Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Definition of revulsion
Noun
  • Rossini has replaced disdain with dedication and swapped out scowls for smiles.
    — Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 22 May 2025
  • That whoop-ass machine is played with a fierce scowl by MMA fighter Michelle Waterson.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Definition of scowl
Noun
  • One witness tried to give him a life preserver, and another tried to speak with him but received a growl in response, according to the sheriff.
    — Alex Sundby May 26, CBS News, 26 May 2025
  • Stalking Lincoln Center in a pair of combat boots, Cheyenne speaks her mind in a low growl, fires every male dance partner NYMB artistic director Jack McMillan (Luke Kirby) has to offer, and sleeps with her new collaborator on Jack’s couch.
    — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 13 May 2025
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 4 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
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 Word Game 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?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All