as in wincing
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
there are some patients who flinch at the mere sight of a needle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flinching
Knorr and other team officials were in the room, but Stammen helped lead it without flinching.
—
Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The Alpha Wave acquisition suggests the Gulf’s biggest dealmakers aren’t flinching at opportunities in the US or being slowed by the war in Iran.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Freeny absorbed the impact like Marvin Hagler, hardly flinching and brushing it off.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Many critics are now calling out CBS for flinching rather than forcefully standing up to politically motivated intimidation.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
And Bobby’s just not flinching.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Amanda, who also had an affair with Oliver, backs up the lie without flinching.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
The Waymo absorbs this without flinching.
—Greg Mania, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
The movie’s real sympathetic figure is Hall, played by Dacre Montgomery, who spends most of the movie cringing and flinching, while trying not to move.
—Mick Lasalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2026
Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
The Alpha Wave acquisition suggests the Gulf’s biggest dealmakers aren’t flinching at opportunities in the US or being slowed by the war in Iran.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 10 Mar. 2026
Freeny absorbed the impact like Marvin Hagler, hardly flinching and brushing it off.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Many critics are now calling out CBS for flinching rather than forcefully standing up to politically motivated intimidation.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
And Bobby’s just not flinching.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
Amanda, who also had an affair with Oliver, backs up the lie without flinching.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
The Waymo absorbs this without flinching.
—Greg Mania, New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2026
The movie’s real sympathetic figure is Hall, played by Dacre Montgomery, who spends most of the movie cringing and flinching, while trying not to move.
—Mick Lasalle, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flinching
Verb
-
Already wincing from the high cost of living, some are going out of their way to spend less at the pump, cooling their jets in long gas lines at Costco and Sam’s Club, downloading the GasBuddy mobile app to scout for the cheapest gas and tapping fuel rewards programs.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Coinbase’s effort, filled with little nuances and created to emulate the experience of a videogame, might have people welcoming another look rather than recoiling at seeing the spot for the 15th time in a period of just a few days.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The movie’s real sympathetic figure is Hall, played by Dacre Montgomery, who spends most of the movie cringing and flinching, while trying not to move.—
Mick LaSalle,
San Francisco Chronicle,
5 Jan. 2026
-
In it, her fellow students can be seen gasping, covering their faces and cringing.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
30 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flinching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flinching. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
