'Flinch' definitions:
Definition of 'flinch'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Flinch'
From: GCIDE
- Flinch \Flinch\, n. The act of flinching. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Flinch'
From: GCIDE
- Flinch \Flinch\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinching.] [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. fl['e]chir, fr. L. flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by E. blench. Cf. Flex.]
- 1. To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat. [1913 Webster]
- A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining. --Locke. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'flinch'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- avoid,
- avoidance,
- be startled,
- blanch,
- blench,
- blink,
- boggle,
- cower,
- cringe,
- demur,
- dodge,
- draw back,
- draw in,
- duck,
- elude,
- escape,
- eschew,
- evade,
- evasion,
- fade,
- fall back,
- fallback,
- falter,
- fight shy of,
- funk,
- hang back,
- hang off,
- have qualms,
- hesitate,
- hold off,
- jib,
- jump,
- jump a mile,
- make bones about,
- pause,
- pull back,
- pull in,
- pull out,
- pullback,
- pullout,
- quail,
- recede,
- recoil,
- reel back,
- retire,
- retract,
- retreat,
- scruple,
- sheer off,
- shrink,
- shrink back,
- shrink from,
- shun,
- shy,
- shy at,
- sidestep,
- sidestepping,
- squinch,
- start,
- start aside,
- start back,
- startle,
- stick at,
- stickle,
- strain,
- swerve,
- turn aside,
- waver,
- weasel,
- weasel out,
- wince,
- withdraw