What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shied
Example
The horse shied away from the loud noise. [shied: past tense]
Example
She shied away from the idea of public speaking. [shied: verb]
flinch
Example
He flinched when the doctor gave him the injection. [flinched: past tense]
Example
She couldn't help but flinch at the sight of the spider. [flinch: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flinch is more commonly used than shied in everyday language. Flinch is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shied is less common and often used to describe animal behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shied and flinch?
Both shied and flinch are informal words that are commonly used in casual conversations. However, flinch can also be used in formal contexts to describe a person's emotional reaction to a difficult or uncomfortable situation.
