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Flinch vs Withdraw - What's the difference?

flinch | withdraw |

As verbs the difference between flinch and withdraw

is that flinch is to make a sudden, involuntary movement in response to a (usually negative) stimulus while withdraw is to pull (something) back, aside, or away.

As a noun flinch

is a reflexive jerking away.

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

    withdraw

    English

    Verb

  • To pull (something) back, aside, or away.
  • * Hooker
    • Impossible it is that God should withdraw his presence from anything.
  • To take back (a comment, etc).
    • to withdraw false charges
  • To remove, to stop providing (one's support, etc).
  • To extract (money from an account).
  • To retreat.
  • To be in withdrawal from an addictive drug etc.
  • * 1994 , (Edward St Aubyn), Bad News , Picador 2006, p. 201:
    • Simon had tried to rob a bank while he was withdrawing , but he had been forced to surrender to the police after they had fired several volleys at him.