Meaning & use
Recoiling
Last updated
suddenly moving or flinching back in fear, horror, or disgust, or springing back after release, as a gun does when fired
See it in a sentence
She recoiled at the sight of the spider on her pillow.
The rifle recoiled sharply against his shoulder with each shot.
A note on using this word
Used both for a physical, emotional flinch and, more technically, for the mechanical kickback of a firearm after firing.
Words with a similar meaning
flinchingshrinking back
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
advancing
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