as in flinching
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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Recent Examples of recoiling
Coinbase’s effort, filled with little nuances and created to emulate the experience of a videogame, might have people welcoming another look rather than recoiling at seeing the spot for the 15th time in a period of just a few days.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
His most intense fans may revel in his displays of dominance, but his least attached supporters—the ones who turned him from a loser in 2020 to a winner in 2024—are recoiling.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Now, at least some signs are emerging that both the broader public and leading liberal voices may be recoiling from the doom and gloom.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
While angioplasties were helpful, one of the main limitations was that the walls of the artery would quickly shrink back – known as recoiling – after the balloon was deflated.
—William Cornwell, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Bassist Franz Lyons, standing nearby onstage, is seen recoiling and shielding his eyes from the dispersing spray.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Americans are recoiling from the Democratic Party, and even in blue states like Colorado, Democrats are feeling the burn.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
His most intense fans may revel in his displays of dominance, but his least attached supporters—the ones who turned him from a loser in 2020 to a winner in 2024—are recoiling.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has been riding roughshod over Washington and voters are recoiling.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
Now, at least some signs are emerging that both the broader public and leading liberal voices may be recoiling from the doom and gloom.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
While angioplasties were helpful, one of the main limitations was that the walls of the artery would quickly shrink back – known as recoiling – after the balloon was deflated.
—William Cornwell, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Bassist Franz Lyons, standing nearby onstage, is seen recoiling and shielding his eyes from the dispersing spray.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Americans are recoiling from the Democratic Party, and even in blue states like Colorado, Democrats are feeling the burn.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recoiling
Verb
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Knorr and other team officials were in the room, but Stammen helped lead it without flinching.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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The Alpha Wave acquisition suggests the Gulf’s biggest dealmakers aren’t flinching at opportunities in the US or being slowed by the war in Iran.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Already wincing from the high cost of living, some are going out of their way to spend less at the pump, cooling their jets in long gas lines at Costco and Sam’s Club, downloading the GasBuddy mobile app to scout for the cheapest gas and tapping fuel rewards programs.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
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Then, as things dragged on, Goldberg could be seen recoiling and wincing in her chair — and, at one point, fully collapsing backward in protest.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recoiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recoiling. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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