flinch

¹

[ flinch ]

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.

verb (used with object)

1. to draw back or withdraw from.

noun

1. an act of flinching.

flinch

²

[ flinch ]

verb (used with object)

1. flense.

flinch

¹

/ 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

noun

1. the act or an instance of drawing back
2. a card game in which players build sequences

flinch

²

/ flɪntʃ /

verb

1. See flense
   a variant of flense

Derived Forms

• ˈflincher, noun
• ˈflinchingly, adverb

Other Words From

• flincher noun
• flinching·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flinch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flinch¹

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

Example Sentences

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.

From Outside Online

If either of you flinches, then don’t count on another six months.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Washington Post

In the video, Solange smacks and kicks her brother-in-law while Beyonce DOESN'T EVEN FLINCH.

From The Daily Beast

Kenyatta made a Bush-like vow to continue the war on Al-Shabab, saying, “We will not flinch.”

From The Daily Beast

When I reminded him that that could mean hundreds of offspring showing up on his doorstep, he didn't flinch.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

We pressed here and watched it kick and then we pressed there and watched it flinch.

From The Daily Beast

Her quiet eyes, held by his during the spell that had bound them speechless, did not flinch at the breaking of it.

From Project Gutenberg

From where he sat watching—curious to see what Cash would do—Bud saw him flinch and stiffen as a man does under pain.

From Project Gutenberg

He too must work; he must not trust altogether to Texas Smith; the scoundrel might flinch, or might fail.

From Project Gutenberg

Two bullets went through the boy's hat; then a splinter cut through his clothes; still he did not flinch.

From Project Gutenberg

To tell you the truth, it was something terrible, but though I didn't like it I wouldn't flinch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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