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Cower vs Flinch - What's the difference?

cower | flinch |

As verbs the difference between cower and flinch

is that cower is {{cx|intransitive|lang=en}} To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear while flinch is to make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus.

As a noun flinch is

a reflexive jerking away.

cower

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) kuren or from Scandinavian ((etyl) . Unrelated to coward, which is of Latin origin.

Verb

(en verb)
  • To crouch or cringe, or to avoid or shy away from something, in fear.
  • He'd be useless in war. He'd just cower in his bunker until the enemy came in and shot him, or until the war was over.
  • * Dryden
  • Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire.
  • * Goldsmith
  • Like falcons, cowering on the nest.
    See also
    * coward * cowardice

    Etymology 2

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To cherish with care.
  • (Webster 1913)

    flinch

    English

    Noun

    (es)
  • A reflexive jerking away.
  • My eye doctor hates the flinch I have every time he tries to get near my eyes.

    Verb

  • To make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus.
  • * John Locke
  • A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.
  • To dodge (a question), to avoid an unpleasant task or duty
  • To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.
  • References