shrinking back
Withdrawing in fear
Shrinking back is a reflexive withdrawal from something threatening, unpleasant, or intimidating.
The phrase suggests both physical recoil and emotional reluctance: She found herself shrinking back from the confrontation.
It implies hesitation or cowardice in the face of difficulty, often used when someone fails to act boldly: He kept shrinking back from asking for the raise.
- recoilingJerking backward in reaction
- flinchingInvoluntary recoil response
- cringingShrinking in discomfort
- pulling awayIncreasing gap from others
- cowerShrink back in dread
shrinking · shying away · timidity · quail · retreat · avoidance · wince · balk · cold feet · apprehension · losing nerve · dread · fight or flight · self-preservation · anxiety · fearfulness · scared stiff · defensiveness
- defensive gesturesflinching, cowering, cringing, ducking, recoiling
- awkward momentsoops, cringe, embarrassment, yikes, awkward
- retreatwithdrawal, retreating, withdraw, pullback, retreat
shrinking backadvancing
Moving in forward direction
moving forward · approaching · lunging · charging · leaning in
shrinking backstanding one's ground
Refusing to yield position
confronting · braving · standing tall · unflinching · daring
shrinking backstepping up
Assuming more responsibility
coming forward · asserting oneself · speaking up · engaging · jumping in
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