flinch

[ flinch ]

/ flɪntʃ /

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See synonyms for: flinch / flinched on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

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

to shrink under pain; wince.

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

verb (used with object)

to draw back or withdraw from.

noun

an act of flinching.

OTHER WORDS FOR flinch

1 recoil, withdraw, blench.

See synonyms for flinch on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of flinch

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

OTHER WORDS FROM flinch

flincher, nounflinch·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby flinch

flightworthy, flighty, flim, flimflam, flimsy, flinch, flinders, Flinders bar, Flinders grass, Flinders Island, Flinders Range

Other definitions for flinch (2 of 2)

flinch²

[ flinch ]

/ flɪntʃ /

verb (used with object)

flense.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use flinch in a sentence

I find it fascinating when friends scoff at a $300 price tag for a mattress that they will spend hundreds of hours sleeping on, but won’t flinch at thousands of dollars for a ski kit that will see dozens of hours of use in a good season.
Don’t Compromise on Your Camp Mattress|mlarsen|July 13, 2021|Outside Online
If either of you flinches, then don’t count on another six months.
Carolyn Hax: A boyfriend avoids mentioning plans to travel with single female friend|Carolyn Hax|July 2, 2021|Washington Post
He doesn’t flinch at questions about being identified as a key offender in one of the game’s most infamous cheating scandals during his former job as bench coach of the Houston Astros.
Alex Cora, leading Red Sox into a promising future, answers for his past in Houston|Chelsea Janes|May 31, 2021|Washington Post
She leaned in and corrected the line of silver above Taylor Jo’s right eye, disturbed a little by the girl’s flinch.
How a rural Virginia town came together for an unforgettable pandemic prom|Hannah Natanson|May 7, 2021|Washington Post

No plans or preparation would have gotten me ready for this kind of adversity, but like I told my wife, we can’t flinch.
Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez says he’ll have surgery to remove cancerous tumor|Matt Bonesteel|November 30, 2020|Washington Post
In the video, Solange smacks and kicks her brother-in-law while Beyonce DOESN'T EVEN FLINCH.
Solange Smacks Jay Z, Legolas Slaps Bieber, and the Biggest Celebrity Feuds of the Year|Amy Zimmerman|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kenyatta made a Bush-like vow to continue the war on Al-Shabab, saying, “We will not flinch.”
Al-Shabab’s Anti-Christian Slaughter|Margot Kiser|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I reminded him that that could mean hundreds of offspring showing up on his doorstep, he didn't flinch.
Today’s Sperm Donor Isn’t a Broke 20-Something|Stephanie Fairyington|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We sat around all night in briefings discussing what each flinch and kick meant for its recovery and if we could save it in time.
Mosul's Civilization and Its Discontents|Michael Carson|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We pressed here and watched it kick and then we pressed there and watched it flinch.
Mosul's Civilization and Its Discontents|Michael Carson|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her quiet eyes, held by his during the spell that had bound them speechless, did not flinch at the breaking of it.
Uncanny Tales|Various
From where he sat watching—curious to see what Cash would do—Bud saw him flinch and stiffen as a man does under pain.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
He too must work; he must not trust altogether to Texas Smith; the scoundrel might flinch, or might fail.
Overland|John William De Forest
Two bullets went through the boy's hat; then a splinter cut through his clothes; still he did not flinch.
Stories of Our Naval Heroes|Various
To tell you the truth, it was something terrible, but though I didn't like it I wouldn't flinch.
Napoleon's Young Neighbor|Helen Leah Reed

British Dictionary definitions for flinch (1 of 2)

flinch¹

/ (flɪntʃ) /

verb (intr)

to draw back suddenly, as from pain, shock, etc; wincehe flinched as the cold water struck him

(often foll by from) to avoid contact (with); shy awayhe never flinched from his duty

noun

the act or an instance of drawing back

a card game in which players build sequences

Derived forms of flinch

flincher, nounflinchingly, adverb

Word Origin for flinch

C16: from Old French flenchir; related to Middle High German lenken to bend, direct

British Dictionary definitions for flinch (2 of 2)