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Glite Dictionary
to blench

to blench

1 9.9
To turn pale and flinch from sudden fear or shock
  • verb
  • /blɛnʧ/
  • Archaic
translation icon : palidecer
  • As the ghost appeared, he began to blench from surprise.

Examples

  • When he saw the snake, he couldn't help but blench in fear.

  • The thought of a whip coming down on that soreness was enough to make me blench, along with most of those watching. Randall then turned to the sergeant-major and said, "A pretty job, Sergeant Wilkes."

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I could see him blench.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The loud noise made her blench and cover her face with her hands.

Synonyms

to pale
vsto blench
41 3.7

Become very light in color, often from fear or illness

also includes a brief flinch reaction rather than only color change
to blanch
vsto blench
5 7.4

To become pale from sudden fear or shock

also includes a quick flinch rather than only becoming pale
to turn pale
vsto blench
3 3.2

Become very white in the face when you feel shocked, afraid, or sick

is milder and can also mean a quick flinch

How Startled

to cower
41 6.1
to recoil
19 4.9
to blench
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to flinch
71 4.1
to wince
47 4.9
to twitch
66 2.8

Surface Forms

blench infinitive
blenched past
blenched past participle
blenching present participle
blenches third person singular

Etymology

Blench is related to blanch, which means 'to turn white', so you can picture someone going pale. That's why to blench is to flinch or turn pale from fear or surprise.