What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
flinched
Example
He flinched when he saw the spider crawling towards him. [flinched: verb]
Example
The loud noise made her flinch. [flinch: noun]
wince
Example
She winced as the dentist started drilling her tooth. [winced: verb]
Example
His wince showed that he was not happy with the news. [wince: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Wince is more commonly used than flinch in everyday language. Wince is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while flinch is less common and often associated with specific situations involving fear or surprise.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between flinched and wince?
Both flinch and wince are informal words and are not typically used in formal contexts.
