verb
flinch
FLIHNCH
verb
1
To make a sudden, involuntary movement away from something painful, frightening, or unpleasant.
"He didn't even flinch when the needle went in."
2
To hesitate or avoid facing something difficult.
"She never flinched from telling the hard truth."
noun
1
A sudden involuntary jerk away from something.
"There was a slight flinch in his expression before he answered."
How to Use Flinch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pull back or wince, usually from pain, fear, or an unpleasant task — or to shy away from doing something difficult.
Common pairings
flinch at the sight
without flinching
flinch from the truth
Word Forms
flinched past tense, flinches plural, flinches singular
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Etymology
From Middle French flenchir ("to bend"), of Germanic origin.