Synonyms of quailing

quailing

verb

present participle of quail

1

as in flinching

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust

we quailed when the waiter unexpectedly presented us with a hindquarter of frog's legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flinching
• recoiling
• wincing
• cringing
• trembling
• shuddering
• shrinking
• hesitating
• quivering
• quaking
• shaking
• squinching
• blenching
• crouching
• blanching
• retreating
• twitching
• whitening
• paling
• withdrawing
• wavering
• faltering
• jerking
• reeling
• receding
• retiring
• starting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approaching
• advancing
• nearing
• facing
• confronting
• defying
• challenging
• bearding

2

as in cringing

to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission

brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cringing
• flinching
• cowering
• grovelling
• groveling
• recoiling
• shrinking
• blanching
• fawning
• whitening
• kowtowing
• toadying
• squinching
• blenching