flinch

¹ American  

[flinch] / flɪntʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to draw back or shrink, as from what is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant.

   Synonyms:

   blench, withdraw, recoil

2. to shrink under pain; wince.

3. Croquet. to let the foot slip from the ball in the act of croqueting.

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verb (used with object)

1. to draw back or withdraw from.

noun

1. an act of flinching.

flinch ² American  

[flinch] / flɪntʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. flense.

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flinch ¹ British  

/ flɪntʃ /

verb

1. to draw back suddenly, as from pain, shock, etc; wince

   he flinched as the cold water struck him

2. (often foll by from) to avoid contact (with); shy away

   he never flinched from his duty

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noun

1. the act or an instance of drawing back

2. a card game in which players build sequences

flinch ² British  

/ flɪntʃ /

verb

1. a variant of flense

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Other Word Forms

• flincher noun
• flinchingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of flinch

First recorded in 1555–65; perhaps nasalized variant of dial. flitch to flit, shift one's position

Example Sentences

Did they flinch from their earlier arguments and beliefs?

From The Wall Street Journal

He did not flinch at the backlash when he fought a near-pension age Mike Tyson, and he does not appear to care now.

From BBC

Woo flinches awake, only to scamper behind me when he sees Nansi.

From Literature

Penelope flinched to hear her parents referred to so casually, but they did not seem to mind.

From Literature

If one flinched or looked in any way eager to leap at the giant bird, Mama Woof warned it back into position with a cuff from her massive paw.

From Literature

Related Words

• balk
• blanch
• blink
• cower
• cringe
• recoil