quail

verb

Definition of quailnext
1
as in to recoil
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust we quailed when the waiter unexpectedly presented us with a hindquarter of frog's legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cringe
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word quail distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of quail are blench, flinch, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

When is it sensible to use blench instead of quail?

Although the words blench and quail have much in common, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

Where would flinch be a reasonable alternative to quail?

The meanings of flinch and quail largely overlap; however, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

When would recoil be a good substitute for quail?

The synonyms recoil and quail are sometimes interchangeable, but recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When could shrink be used to replace quail?

In some situations, the words shrink and quail are roughly equivalent. However, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

When can wince be used instead of quail?

The words wince and quail can be used in similar contexts, but wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quail
  1. recoil
  2. cringe
  3. flinch
  4. wince
Verb
  • Because as our founders knew so well, human nature recoils all too often at the inconveniences and frustrations of self-government.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
  • Here was a man whose music pleaded for recognition but whose body recoiled from it.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
Definition of recoil
Verb
  • What is transgressive, indie and anti-woke today will one day be normie, derivative, and cringe.
    — John McDermott, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2025
  • Her post-Sisterhood career has featured roles in horror flicks (The Grudge 2), cringe comedies (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), medical dramas (House), and sitcoms (Two and a Half Men).
    — EW.com, EW.com, 28 June 2025
Definition of cringe
Verb
  • Judge Subramanian didn’t flinch, siding with the government.
    — Danielle Bacher, People.com, 3 July 2025
  • When the conversation turned to the metaphorical messes — like heartbreak — the 54-year-old didn’t flinch.
    — Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 3 July 2025
Definition of flinch
Verb
  • As the prosecutor described the fatal injuries her daughter faced, Scarbrough bowed her head and winced.
    — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
  • Dakota Johnson is more charming than usual here but moves like someone whose feet have never touched the ground, who has never winced looking at a bill.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 June 2025
Definition of wince
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.

Browse Nearby Words

quai
quail
quailed
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“Quail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quail. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on quail

Nglish: Translation of quail for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quail

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