Flinch vs. Recoil — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Flinch and Recoil
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Compare with Definitions
Flinch
To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
Recoil
Recoil (often called knockback, kickback or simply kick) is the rearward thrust generated when a gun is being discharged. In technical terms, the recoil is a result of conservation of momentum, as according to Newton's third law the force required to accelerate something will evoke an equal but opposite reactional force, which means the forward momentum gained by the projectile and exhaust gases (ejectae) will be mathematically balanced out by an equal and opposite momentum exerted back upon the gun.
Flinch
To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
Recoil
To spring back, as upon firing.
Flinch
An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.
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Recoil
To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
Flinch
A reflexive jerking away.
My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.
Recoil
To fall back; return
"Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Flinch
(croquet) The slipping of the foot from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
Recoil
The backward action of a firearm upon firing.
Flinch
(intransitive) To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus; to cringe.
Recoil
The act or state of recoiling; reaction.
Flinch
To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
Recoil
A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
The recoil of nature, or of the blood
Flinch
(croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
Recoil
The state or condition of having recoiled.
Flinch
To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.
Recoil
(firearms) The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.
Flinch
To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
Recoil
An escapement in which, after each beat, the scape-wheel recoils slightly.
Flinch
The act of flinching.
Recoil
(intransitive) To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
He recoiled in disgust when he saw the mess.
Flinch
A reflex response to sudden pain
Recoil
To retreat before an opponent.
Flinch
Draw back, as with fear or pain;
She flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf
Recoil
To retire, withdraw.
Recoil
(of a firearm) To quickly push back when fired
Recoil
To start, roll, bound, spring, or fall back; to take a reverse motion; to be driven or forced backward; to return.
Evil on itself shall back recoil.
The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible . . . that we should recoil into our ordinary spirits.
Recoil
To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing, alarming, or the like; to shrink.
Recoil
To turn or go back; to withdraw one's self; to retire.
Recoil
To draw or go back.
Recoil
A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking; as, the recoil of nature, or of the blood.
Recoil
The state or condition of having recoiled.
The recoil from formalism is skepticism.
Recoil
Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when discharged.
Recoil
The backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
Recoil
A movement back from an impact
Recoil
Draw back, as with fear or pain;
She flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf
Recoil
Spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide
Recoil
Spring back, as from a forceful thrust;
The gun kicked back into my shoulder
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