as in to flinch
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
the social worker tried not to recoil from the sight of the cockroach in the bathtub
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in revulsion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recoil
Jordyn Holman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Hanks recoiled from the gesture, but eventually accepted it.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
This recoil was detected by watching for a change in how light scattered off the silica, which allowed the physicists to identify the exact moment a nucleus decayed.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for recoil
Verb
Investors recoiled at the weaker-than-expected forecast, a rare loss of momentum for the company that has posted a series of bumper results.
—Jordyn Holman, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Hanks recoiled from the gesture, but eventually accepted it.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
Western governments and much of the world recoil at the idea of a jihadist Syria.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024
This recoil was detected by watching for a change in how light scattered off the silica, which allowed the physicists to identify the exact moment a nucleus decayed.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for recoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recoil
Verb
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When UConn, national champs the last two years, appears on the screen on Selection Sunday, probably as a No. 8 seed, their first-, and potential second-round opponent may flinch, for a moment, at seeing the Huskies’ brand in their bracket.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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Witnesses to Utah’s last firing squad execution recently recalled to NBC News the sound of rapid gunfire in the chamber and how the inmate, Ronnie Lee Gardner, appeared to flinch and move his arm after being shot.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC News,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Politicians in these countries have quietly expressed revulsion at President Donald Trump’s apparent friendliness with Vladimir Putin and willingness to make sweetheart deals at the expense of Ukraine.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
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And its desire to more fully embrace German history goes against deep revulsion toward the Nazi past.—
Mark Sappenfield,
The Christian Science Monitor,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Then, their star sophomore went up for a rebound early in the second quarter and emerged from under the hoop wincing with pain, an image that inevitably conjured thoughts of the worst-case scenario.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Mar. 2025
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Everyone on the Duke sidelines held their collective breath as the star winced in pain.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recoil. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.
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