recoil

13 synonyms for recoil, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To jerk or pull back suddenly, especially from fear, disgust, or shock.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

kick bound

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

cringe funk rebound backlash bounce

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

flinch reverberate backfire resile quail repercussion

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To jerk or pull back suddenly, especially from fear, disgust, or shock.

“She recoiled at the sight of the spider.”

cringe flinch reverberate backfire funk resile rebound backlash kick quail bound bounce

2. noun

The backward kick of a gun when it is fired.

“The rifle's recoil bruised his shoulder.”

kick repercussion backlash rebound

How to use recoil

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

recoil in horror recoil from gun recoil

Etymology

From Old French reculer, "to move back," from re- plus a Latin root related to culus — literally suggesting retreating "rear-first."

Full origin of recoil →

Frequently asked questions

What does “recoil” mean?

The word “recoil” means to jerk or pull back suddenly, especially from fear, disgust, or shock. In plain terms, to jump or spring backward, whether physically (a gun) or emotionally (from shock or disgust).

How do you pronounce “recoil”?

“Recoil” is pronounced REE-koyl (/ˈɹiːkɔɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “recoil” in a sentence?

Here is “recoil” used in a sentence: “She recoiled at the sight of the spider.”

What is another word for “recoil”?

Words with a similar meaning to “recoil” include kick.

What part of speech is “recoil”?

Depending on how it is used, “recoil” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “recoil” come from?

The word “recoil” comes from Latin. From Old French reculer, "to move back," from re- plus a Latin root related to culus — literally suggesting retreating "rear-first.".

Is “recoil” a common word?

“Recoil” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “recoil” have?

“Recoil” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to jerk or pull back suddenly, especially from fear, disgust, or shock.

People also searched

kick bound bounce funk backlash rebound cringe repercussion resile reverberate quail flinch

Nearby words

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