To draw away involuntarily, usually out of fear or disgust

• wince

  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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• start

  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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• shy

  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved:
  3. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:

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  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved:
  3. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:

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• shrink

  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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• recoil

  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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• quail

  1. Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
  2. Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

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  1. Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
  2. Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

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• cringe

  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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• blench

  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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An act of drawing back in an involuntary or instinctive fashion

• wince

  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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• shrink

  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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• recoil

  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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• cringe

  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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  1. To shrink back, as in fear; cower.
  2. To behave in a servile way; fawn.
  3. An act or instance of cringing.

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