flinching

Meanings

1. 1verbintransitive

   Making a sudden small movement away from something painful, frightening or unpleasant.

   Grammar: No object; often with at: flinching at the noise.

   Patterns

   • flinch at something
   • flinch from something

   He was flinching at every loud bang from the fireworks.

   The patient kept flinching when the nurse touched the sore spot.

   She stood there without flinching as the cold water hit her.

2. 2verbintransitivefigurative

   Avoiding or shrinking from a difficult task, decision or truth because it feels uncomfortable.

   Grammar: Usually with from: flinching from a decision.

   Patterns

   • flinch from doing something

   The mayor was flinching from tough budget choices.

   They are flinching from the truth about the costs.

   A good leader does not keep flinching when criticized.

3. 3noununcountable

   The act of pulling back quickly in surprise or pain, often in the phrase without flinching.

   Grammar: Often used with without: she faced it without flinching.

   Patterns

   • without flinching

   Her flinching told me the wound was still painful.

   His flinching was barely visible but I noticed it.

   There was some flinching in the crowd when the thunder cracked.

Common combinations

without flinching

He answered the tough questions without flinching.

flinching at the sound

The dog kept flinching at the sound of thunder.

stop flinching

Try to stop flinching when the doctor checks your knee.

flinching from the truth

Stop flinching from the truth.

visibly flinching

She was visibly flinching in the dentist's chair.

Synonyms and how they differ

wincing

is usually from pain and affects the face, whereas flinching is a body movement.

recoiling

suggests a bigger, stronger movement backward, often in disgust or fear.

cringing

suggests shrinking down in fear or embarrassment, not just a quick start.

shrinking

means moving away more slowly and often because of shyness.

Opposites

Word family

flinch verb

to make a sudden movement of fear

flinch noun

such a movement

unflinching adjective

showing no fear

unflinchingly adverb

in a firm, fearless way

Commonly confused: flinching or flinging?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “flinching”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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