Showing results for flinched. Search instead for flinches.

flinched

VERB

shy away, wince

Synonyms

STRONGEST

balk blanch blink cower cringe recoil

STRONG

avoid blench crouch duck elude escape eschew evade flee quail recede retire retreat shirk shrink shun start swerve withdraw

WEAK

draw back

Antonyms

STRONG

advance face forge meet remain stay stretch take on

WEAK

confront

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.

On the other hand, rich drivers barely flinched.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, meanwhile, barely flinched as an explosion rocked an area close to the demonstration, in images widely broadcast on state TV.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Weakness, coupled with suspicion, brought on the clash when Louis flinched from using force.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025

Though she was often stoic and staring straight ahead while in court, she never flinched or showed emotion when prosecutors made negative comments about her partner.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2025

The woman took his palm, spat on it—he flinched, but she hung on to it— rubbed it with her thumb, and began to croon.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell