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. a variant of flense

flinch

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈflinchingly, adverb
• ˈflincher, noun

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

In one scene a little boy sits near an IRA soldier watching British officers quietly roll up in vehicles and doesn’t flinch as the man runs off and bullets whiz by his head.

From Salon

Even when asked to complete devastating tasks, like facilitating the executions of close friends, they don’t flinch.

From Los Angeles Times

"Working with kids is in my soul and I want to teach them that disabled isn't a dirty word, and when I say it I don't have to flinch," Amy adds.

From BBC

“He don’t flinch, man,” Mack said.

From Los Angeles Times

I no longer flinch at the crackly sound my hearing aids make when I first put them on in the morning.

From Slate

Related Words

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