What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cowered
Example
The dog cowered in the corner when it heard the loud thunder. [cowered: verb]
Example
She cowered under the table, afraid of what might happen next. [cowered: past tense]
flinch
Example
He flinched when the ball hit him in the face. [flinched: verb]
Example
She couldn't help but flinch at the sight of the spider crawling towards her. [flinch: infinitive]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flinch is more commonly used than cower in everyday language. Flinch is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cower is less common and often used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cowered and flinch?
Both cower and flinch are informal words, but cower may be seen as more negative and judgmental, while flinch is more neutral and descriptive.
