Synonyms of recoils

recoils 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of recoil

as in flinches

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

• flinches
• winces
• cringes
• shudders
• shrinks
• hesitates
• trembles
• shakes
• blenches
• quivers
• pales
• crouches
• withdraws
• quails
• whitens
• squinches
• retreats
• blanches
• quakes
• falters
• recedes
• twitches
• jerks
• wavers
• retires
• starts
• reels

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approaches
• advances
• nears
• confronts
• faces
• defies
• challenges
• beards

recoils

2 of 2

noun

plural of recoil

as in revulsions

Related Words

• flinches
• revulsions
• routs
• withdrawals
• disengagements
• retirements
• retreats
• pullbacks
• pullouts
• recessions
• disentanglements

Dissimilar Words

• advances
• advancements

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of recoils

Verb

Something in the liberal heart recoils in the face of righteous ruthlessness. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Looking through scans from his first VIBE story from back in 2012, Rocky laughs at first, then immediately recoils. — Jeff Ihaza, VIBE.com, 2 June 2026

While JoAnne recoils from Duncan’s machinations, her son Orson finally bottoms out in the supplement pit of the manosphere. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 May 2026

Anaia recoils from this request, but Racine is fully up for the mission. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 15 May 2026

Exhaling occurs when the diaphragm relaxes and the chest recoils. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

There’s a scene in which Frank meets his own idol, an alt-world version of Fred Astaire (played by Gyllenhaal’s brother Jake, who is good at mugging and singing), and vomits his fandom at him until the actor recoils. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

At some point, each of us is faced with a clingy child, a dramatic friend, a partner who recoils at the first hint of intimacy, a volatile parent or a controlling boss — in short, a difficult relationship. — Jessica A. Stern, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026

But the Oscar-winning filmmaker recoils at being called a visionary. — Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026