Showing results for recoils. Search instead for reoils.

recoils

VERB

shrink away

Synonyms

STRONGEST

backfire balk blanch blink cringe demur flinch hesitate reel shudder tremble turn away waver wince

STRONG

blench carom dodge duck falter jerk kick quail quake react rebound resile shake shirk shrink spring start stick stickle swerve withdraw

WEAK

draw back pull back shy away step back

Antonyms

STRONGEST

steady

STRONG

face meet remain stay

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Having fashioned a creature from dead body parts, the scientist recoils from the result, which appears to him to be a monster of “unparalleled barbarity,” and abandons his construction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

When Maggie makes an ambiguous reference to Alma’s history, her professor recoils.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2025

He practices a politics of inspiration, and the Surge recoils at politicians who try to inspire us.

From Slate • Apr. 5, 2025

You see Oppenheimer recoil, even if what he recoils from is left pointedly out of frame.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 11, 2023

She glances at her body and she recoils.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung