flinchers
They shy back
Flinchers are people who flinch—who instinctively recoil or shrink back from something painful, startling, or unpleasant.
The term often carries a note of criticism, suggesting those who lack resolve or back down when challenged: The flinchers in the group wanted to abandon the project at the first sign of trouble.
Backward force from discharge
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- jerkAbrupt pulling motion
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
blink · reflex · instinctive · involuntary · spasm · contraction · automatic · impulsive
Lacking courage or confidence
- shyReserved and retiring
- cowardlyWithout bravery or nerve
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
skittish · apprehensive · timorous · meek · hesitant · fearful · jumpy · trepidatious
Decreasing in dimension
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- withdrawingRemoving or pulling away
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- duckingBending to avoid impact
evading · sidestepping · balking · refusing · reluctant · gun-shy · commitment-phobic · risk-averse
Easily upset or offended
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
susceptible · tender · oversensitive · defensive · reactive · guarded · prickly · hypersensitive
recoil
Backward force from discharge
shudder · blink · reflex · instinctive · involuntary · spasm · contraction · automatic · impulsive · shrink
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
anxious · skittish · apprehensive · timorous · meek · hesitant · fearful · jumpy · trepidatious · mousy
shrinking
Decreasing in dimension
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- withdrawingRemoving or pulling away
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
ducking · evading · sidestepping · balking · refusing · reluctant · gun-shy · commitment-phobic · risk-averse · hesitating
touchy
Easily upset or offended
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
fragile · susceptible · tender · oversensitive · defensive · reactive · guarded · prickly · hypersensitive · raw