flinch

verb
UK: /flɪntʃ/
US: /flɪntʃ/

  1. To make a sudden, small movement because of pain, fear, or surprise.

    1. He didn't flinch when the dog barked.
    2. She flinched as the dentist started to examine her teeth.

  2. To avoid doing something because you are afraid or not confident enough.

    1. I won't flinch from telling him the truth.
    2. The company did not flinch from making necessary but unpopular decisions.

Synonyms

recoil wince shrink cringe blench quail dodge shirk
flinch noun

  1. A sudden, small movement that shows pain, fear, or surprise.

    1. I saw a flinch of pain on his face.
    2. The sudden noise caused a flinch in the crowd.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "flinch" in English means: To make a sudden, small movement because of pain, fear, or surprise., To avoid doing something because you are afraid or not confident enough..

The phonetic transcription of "flinch" is /flɪntʃ/ in British English and /flɪntʃ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "flinch": recoil, wince, shrink, cringe, blench, quail, dodge, shirk.

Example usage of "flinch": "He didn't flinch when the dog barked.". More examples on the page.