flinch

Meaning

Noun

1. A reflexive jerking away.
2. The slipping of the foot from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Verb

1. To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus; to cringe.
2. To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
3. To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Verb

Alternative form of flense

Synonyms

wince

recoil

shrink

cringe

quail

start

blench

cower

shrink back

balk

draw back

squinch

falter

jerk

hesitate

give a start

funk

fall back

regress

resist

retreat

retrogress

set back

shy

startle

startled

step back

taken aback

tear off

flench

tremble

waver

weak

whisk away

yank

afraid of

go backward

take alarm

turn aside

be shy of

jump back

fear

😨

scringe

back

🔙

doggle

back up

be afraid

delay

flense

gape

get cold feet

give way

goggle

grovel

jump

pull

pull back

pull down

push back

react

recede

reduce

Pronounced as (IPA)

/flɪnt͡ʃ/

Etymology

Cognate with Middle High German: lenken

In summary

From Middle French flenchir (“to bend”), of Germanic origin. Compare Middle High German lenken (“to bend”). Attested in English since the 16th century.