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   flinch

   /flɪn(t)ʃ/

   verb

   • 1. make a quick, nervous movement as an instinctive reaction to fear, pain, or surprise: "she flinched at the acidity in his voice" Similar wincestartshy (away)recoilshrinkpull backback awayshy awaydraw backwithdrawblenchcringesquirmquivershuddershivertremblequakeshakequailcowerwaverfalterhesitateget cold feetblanchOpposite stand firm
   • ▪ avoid doing or becoming involved in (something) through fear or anxiety: "I rarely flinch from a fight when I'm sure of myself" Similar shrinkrecoilshy awayturn awayswervehang backdemurdodgeevadeavoidduckbalk atjib atquail atfight shy ofinformal:boggle at

   noun

   • 1. an act of flinching: "‘Don't call me that,’ he said with a flinch"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘slink or sneak off’): from Old French flenchir ‘turn aside’, of West Germanic origin and related to German lenken ‘to guide, steer’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. flincher noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • C

     3

   • H

     4

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