Showing results for recoils. Search instead for Preboils.

recoils

VERB

shrink away

Synonyms

STRONGEST

backfire balk blanch blink cringe demur flinch hesitate reel shudder tremble turn away waver wince

STRONG

blench carom dodge duck falter jerk kick quail quake react rebound resile shake shirk shrink spring start stick stickle swerve withdraw

WEAK

draw back pull back shy away step back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

steady

STRONG

face meet remain stay

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.

Maekar recoils at the thought of a child of royal birth subsisting on salted beef.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Having fashioned a creature from dead body parts, the scientist recoils from the result, which appears to him to be a monster of “unparalleled barbarity,” and abandons his construction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

He practices a politics of inspiration, and the Surge recoils at politicians who try to inspire us.

From Slate • Apr. 5, 2025

You see Oppenheimer recoil, even if what he recoils from is left pointedly out of frame.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2023

But even now she recoils at the thought of living with her own in-laws.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins