quail

1
2
as in to cringe
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word quail distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of quail are blench, flinch, recoil, shrink, and wince. While all these words mean "to draw back in fear or distaste," quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear.

quailed before the apparition

When is it sensible to use blench instead of quail?

Although the words blench and quail have much in common, blench implies fainthearted flinching.

stood their ground without blenching

Where would flinch be a reasonable alternative to quail?

The meanings of flinch and quail largely overlap; however, flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution.

faced her accusers without flinching

When would recoil be a good substitute for quail?

The synonyms recoil and quail are sometimes interchangeable, but recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust.

recoiled at the suggestion of stealing

When could shrink be used to replace quail?

In some situations, the words shrink and quail are roughly equivalent. However, shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice.

shrank from the unpleasant truth

When can wince be used instead of quail?

The words wince and quail can be used in similar contexts, but wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (such as a start or recoiling).

winced in pain

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for quail
Verb
  • But Tesla shares started really recoiling on January 21, the day after President Trump’s inauguration, when Musk took over as head of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    Matt Durot, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • When Johnson was elected in early 2023, Chicago and the rest of the nation were still recoiling from the trauma of the pandemic, school and business lockdowns, and waves of street violence.
    Will Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Gellar chatted with Glamour about the advice her Dexter costar Michael C. Hall told her about returning to an iconic role, her one film her kids don’t find cringe, and her rules for re-creating 90s fashion.
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025
  • And everyone would cringe at the thought of disappointing their colleagues.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • But the Clippers didn’t flinch, shaking off an early 12-point deficit to beat the Cavs, 132-119, in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
    Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2025
  • But at that moment, looking up from the examination table at Tina, her dark hair framing her unsmiling face, Lilian neither hesitated nor flinched.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Everyone on the Duke sidelines held their collective breath as the star winced in pain.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Quail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quail. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on quail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!