recoil
/rɪˈkɔɪl/
verb
- To suddenly move back because of fear, disgust, or surprise.
- She recoiled when she saw the spider on her pillow.
- The child recoiled at the sight of the needle.
- He recoiled from the terrible smell coming from the dumpster.
- To spring back or move backward after being fired (of a gun).
- Older shotguns tend to recoil more than modern ones.
- She learned to brace herself so the gun wouldn't recoil so hard.
- The rifle recoiled sharply against his shoulder when he fired it.
- To feel or show strong dislike or opposition to an idea or situation.
- He recoiled from the proposal because it seemed unethical.
- Many people recoil at the thought of eating insects.
- The public recoiled against the new law, demanding it be changed.
Antonyms
noun
- The backward movement of a gun when it is fired.
- The recoil of the cannon shook the ground.
- He felt the recoil in his hands every time he pulled the trigger.
- This pistol has a soft recoil, making it easy to control.
- A sudden backward movement, especially due to fear or shock.
- There was a recoil in the crowd when the firecracker exploded.
- Her recoil from the snake was instinctive.
- The horse's recoil startled the rider.