flinch
Wince at pain
Flinch is a quick, involuntary movement away from something painful or startling—a wince, a recoil: She flinched when the nurse inserted the needle.
Figuratively, to flinch is to shrink from difficulty or unpleasantness: He didn't flinch from telling her the truth.
The noun names the movement itself: a visible flinch.
Reflexive recoil from distress
- grimaceTwisted expression of displeasure
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- squirmTwist from discomfort
- tenseStrained or nervous
brace · grit · clench · shudder · groan · whimper · recoil · anticipation
Unexpected event causing astonishment
- shockViolent sudden disturbance
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- frightSudden intense fear
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
scare · start · jump · gasp · twitch · shudder · spasm · convulse
Reflexive recoil from distress
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- shrinkDecrease in size
- recoilBackward force from discharge
- withdrawRemove or pull away
jerk · pull-back · blench · quail · cower · duck · dodge · retreat
Decrease in size
- cowerShrink back in dread
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- quailFlinch from fear
- blanchScald briefly, then cool
wilt · recoil · withdraw · hesitate · balk · shy · dread · discomfort
Involuntary stimulus response
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- automaticOperating without intervention
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
spontaneous · visceral · gut · knee-jerk · unthinking · hardwired · innate · primitive
Refuse to proceed
- hesitatePause in uncertainty
- waverHesitate or fluctuate
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
pull-back · second-guess · reluctance · reservation · trepidation · apprehension · timidity · doubt
wince
Reflexive recoil from distress
tense · brace · grit · clench · shudder · groan · whimper · recoil · anticipation · sensitivity
surprise
Unexpected event causing astonishment
jolt · scare · start · jump · gasp · twitch · shudder · spasm · convulse · bolt
wince
Reflexive recoil from distress
withdraw · jerk · pull-back · blench · quail · cower · duck · dodge · retreat · start
shrink
Decrease in size
blanch · wilt · recoil · withdraw · hesitate · balk · shy · dread · discomfort · unease
reflex
Involuntary stimulus response
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- automaticOperating without intervention
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
unconscious · spontaneous · visceral · gut · knee-jerk · unthinking · hardwired · innate · primitive · uncontrolled
balk
Refuse to proceed
pause · pull-back · second-guess · reluctance · reservation · trepidation · apprehension · timidity · doubt · vacillate
- body reactionssweating, blushing, shiver, goosebumps, twitch
- reflexesreflex, reflexes, reflex action, reflex response, quick reflexes
- shock reactionsgasp, wide eyes, jaw drop, shocked face, open mouth
- muscle movementscontraction, flexion, extension, twitch, spasm
- Ticstics, twitch, twitching, blink, blinking
- flinchingwince, wincing, recoil, cringe, cringing
flinchstand firm
Refuse to retreat
hold steady · hold one's ground · stand one's ground · advance · approach
flinchface
Head's anterior surface
confront · stand firm · meet · endure · brave
flinchfollow through
Complete an intended action
press on · persist · persevere · push forward · soldier on
- without flinching
- two for flinchingRetaliatory strikes for startling