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
  • Markets recoiled at the developments, sending stocks into a vicious two-day sell-off that put the Nasdaq Composite, home to powerhouse Silicon Valley names that Trump has been courting in the early days of his second term, into a bear market.
    Erin Doherty,Annika Kim Constantino,Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025
  • When others recoiled in disgust from sick and suffering people, the Buddha cared for them, showing that healing and dignity come from love.
    Rabbi Dana Magat, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Danny and Xander have a messy romantic history that would make any HR department cringe.
    Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Seniors from some of the nation’s most expensive high schools travel each year to a luxury resort in the Bahamas — trips that make school administrators cringe.
    Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • When confronted with this new, harsh reality, our state didn’t flinch.
    Wes Moore, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Yes, there will be some wins, at least from an optics perspective, but especially with China neither Trump nor Xi wants to be the first to flinch.
    Chuck Jones, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Just look at what could’ve been the game-winning 3-pointer: The entire nation, minus Gator fans, winced at that.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • City officials winced at the thought of heavy military equipment rolling on streets.
    Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 7 Apr. 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 21 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!