to recoil
19
4.9
- verb
- /rɪˈkɔɪl/
:
retroceder
- The human mind recoils from that to a certain degree.
And if they recoil, you backtrack a little bit.
- And if they recoil, you backtrack a little bit.
- But I am surprised that it just at the time people recoil from what I'm saying so badly.
- The more these two talk, the more we recoil.
- And then he says, interestingly, spirit at once recoils in horror from the abstract unity.
- If it hits you in the side of the head, you feel it, you recoil.
- And what should an addict do when they recoil against the idea of a quote UN quote higher power?
- And both of them recoil in horror from what the other group supposedly do.
- But I recoil from the idea that we have to be victims of that, that we lack agency.
- However, a lot of people really recoil when they see the kind of investment that you're talking about making in yourself and the people around you.
- So any kind of depth we're just programmed to to not necessarily recoil, but to be cautious about that edge and that depth.
- Like we sort of instinctively recoiled those things 'cause we know the uncanny valley of that is still is still strong.
Examples
-
I jolt forwards, sharp pain in my neck as my head recoils back against my seat.
-
The very idea should have made me recoil the moment I'd read the letters on the bulletin board.
Fiction book (1990) -
It's interesting because as I talk to girls my age about high value, low value, they all kind of recoil at those terms.
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But I recoil from the idea that we have to be victims of that, that we lack agency.
-
I mean, people would recoil.
-
How can one recoil in fear at something as inventive as your wonderful lion?
-
However, a lot of people really recoil when they see the kind of investment that you're talking about making in yourself and the people around you.
-
When she tossed the rope to Cory, he recoiled, thinking it was live.
Fiction book (1994) -
Temple unconsciously recoiled from the strong smell of whiskey and vomit on her breath.
Fiction book (1994) -
When the dog suddenly barked, she recoiled in surprise.
Synonyms
71
4.1
Move back quickly because of pain, fear or surprise
34
2.3
Move back suddenly because of fear or pain
6
5.1
To pull back quickly because you are afraid or to show you give up
1
8.6
To feel afraid and move back from something
1
5.8
To move quickly and lightly away, often because something scares you
1
9.9
To pull part of your body back when you feel pain or fear
Move quickly backward because you are surprised or afraid
Antonyms
How Far
Surface Forms
Etymology
Recoil has the same parts — re- 'back' and a root meaning 'gather', similar to collect — so it originally meant to draw back. That's why to recoil is to quickly move away or 'draw back' from something because of fear, pain, or disgust.