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Glite Dictionary
😬 To move back 😬 A quick movement
flinch

flinch

5 4.8
A quick, small movement back because of pain, fear or surprise
  • noun
  • /flɪntʃ/
translation icon : sobresalto
  • During the surgery, the doctor was careful not to provoke any flinch from the patient.
  • an involuntary flinch
  • the slightest flinch

Examples

  • Pain P167 shot through her own back, making her flinch.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • There was no response; not even a flinch.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The flinch, the real flinch is a protection mechanism.

  • As he said the words, he saw her flinch, and it annoyed him.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Gorak took a deep breath, an action that caused another involuntary flinch.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Gideon, however, noticed his sister's involuntary flinch, and he did not bother to hide his glee.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The sudden loud noise caused a sharp flinch from the child, who instinctively covered her ears.

  • He felt a brief flinch of pain when the nurse applied the bandage too tightly.

Synonyms

start
vsflinch
34 1.0

A sudden small movement caused by surprise or fear

is more tied to pain or shrinking back than mere surprise
shudder
vsflinch
20 4.1

A sudden, uncontrolled shaking of the body from fear, cold, or strong feeling

is a single backward movement rather than a shaking whole-body tremor
jump
vsflinch
19 1.0

A sudden movement of the body caused by surprise

is a backward shrinking due more to pain or fear than alarm
jerk
vsflinch
7 2.2

A sudden sharp movement or pull

is a reflexive backward shrink tied to pain or fear rather than a simple pull
wince
vsflinch
6 5.3

A small automatic face movement showing pain or discomfort

is a quick whole-body withdrawal rather than just a facial reaction

How Strongly

flinch
5 4.8
wince
6 5.3

Surface Forms

flinch singular
flinches plural

Etymology

Flinch comes from the image of a quick shrinking movement; think of the small 'shrink back' you make when you are surprised or hurt. So, a flinch is that short, involuntary movement or reaction.