unflinching
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unflinchingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of unflinching
Explanation
Use the adjective unflinching to describe someone who's fearless and steadfast, even when they're facing something very difficult. Martin Luther King, Jr. had an unflinching dedication to fighting injustice. To flinch is to pull away in fear or pain. If you don't flinch while your dad pulls a splinter out of your finger, you're unflinching. This means that you're resolute and unwavering, despite the fact that you may be dealing with something scary (or in this case, painful). Other things are figuratively unflinching, like your unflinching honesty, even in the face of a hostile reaction to what you say.
Vocabulary lists containing unflinching
Tuck Everlasting
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Siddhartha
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Put on a Bold Face: Synonyms for "Brave"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Angela Rayner's speech to a group of Labour activists on Tuesday night was arch, barbed, punchy and unflinching.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
Weisz spoke of “Gardener” source material author John le Carré in her speech, noting on stage that he “wrote this unflinching, angry story.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
“Our response will be unflinching, united and proportional,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Davos, warning about a “dangerous downward spiral” in the trans-Atlantic relationship.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen told the meeting of global political and business elites that the EU's response would be "unflinching, united and proportional".
From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026
Except for unflinching courage, they were not those that distinguished Theseus.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
