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Words to Describe Fearful Recoil

By Maeve Maddox

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Writers are constantly reminded Show, dont tell!

One way to be more descriptive in our writing is to use
verbs that convey movement.
Here are some words that describe movement prompted
by fear, cowardice, or pain.
flinch [flnch] to draw away in anticipation of pain.
The prisoner flinched when the guard raised the whip.
The nobleman did not flinch as he mounted the steps to
the guillotine.
The soldier marched unflinchingly through the hail of
arrows.

shrink [shrngk] to draw back as if trying to make ones body smaller. One might shrink into the shadows
in an attempt to become invisible. Figuratively it has the sense of avoiding danger, often used with a
negative: He did not shrink from battle. By the way, the principal parts of this verb are shrink, shrank,
(have) shrunk.

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wince [wns] One might wince from pain, real or anticipated.

The patient winced as the dentist probed the painful molar.
She winced when he called her fat.
Flinch, shrink, and wince all derive from words meaning bend, turn, or turn aside
blench [blnch] I used to think blench included the idea of turning pale along with recoiling. However, it
is not related to blanch. It just means move suddenly, wince, or dodge.
cower [kour] Although the word looks as though it might have a connection with coward, it probably
comes from a German word meaning to lie in wait. In current usage it conveys a cowardly or fearful
movement.
The sailor cowered under the lash.
The frightened puppy cowered under the porch.
cringe [krnj] In Old English the word could mean to fall dead in battle. Now it has the less final meaning
of to draw back or move in a fearful manner.
The servant had a cringing manner, as if moving in constant fear of being struck.
The nurse cringed as the demanding patient rang the bell for the twentieth time in ten minutes.
grovel [grvl, grv-] This is a word to use when the action takes place close to the ground. It conveys
the sense of demonstrating servility by dropping onto ones knees, or even going face down. Figuratively it
can be used of people too eager to please.
Deprived of his weapon, the enemy grovelled in the dirt, pleading for his life.

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quail [kwl] Although spelled the same as the name of the game bird, the verb to quail, to lose courage,
to shrink, is not related. Its origin is uncertain. Words meaning to be ill, to die, and to curdle have
been suggested. In current usage, quail means to draw away in fear or weakness.
He quailed at the prospect of climbing the mountain a second time.

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ed on November 28, 2008 1:25 am

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Very useful post. Thank you a lot!

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Tiggy on November 28, 2008 6:04 pm

Cannot or Can Not?

Show, dont tell is very good advice, but I would steer away from using fairly obscure words such as
blench and quail, or a word that does not have an instant impact.

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By the time the reader has figured out what a quail has to do with the action, the momentum will be lost!

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PreciseEdit on December 02, 2008 7:23 pm

Having a little fun with these words:
Does a shrink shrink from clients?
Does a cow cower?
Can you grovel on the gravel?
Will a quail quail from hunters?
Do people on the fringe cringe?
Do finches flinch?
Bleach may not blench, but you may blench from fist clenched (ok-thats a stretch)
umwince?
Aubrey on August 19, 2012 3:27 pm

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Shy is another one. Generally when you use the word in the context of fearful recoil it applies to horses,
but it could also be applied to people.

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