What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
blench
Example
She couldn't help but blench when the loud noise startled her. [blench: verb]
Example
His face blenched with fear as he saw the spider crawling towards him. [blenched: past tense]
flinch
Example
He couldn't help but flinch when the ball flew towards his face. [flinch: verb]
Example
She flinched at the sound of thunder, as it reminded her of a traumatic experience. [flinched: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flinch is more commonly used than blench in everyday language. Flinch is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while blench is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between blench and flinch?
While blench is typically associated with a more formal tone, flinch is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
