Sample sentences for RECOIL - verbalworkout.com

(click/touch triangles for details)

Definition

to move backward suddenly (sometimes figuratively)

especially:

the backward jerk of a gun or cannon when it is fired
when a person flinches (suddenly draws back) from someone or something, as with fear, disgust, or pain
when a person is emotionally repulsed, as by disgust
when something intended to go in one direction figuratively falls back in the opposite direction; for example, a story told to hurt someone that comes back to hurt the teller

recoiled = suddenly moved back (away from)

recoil = feel disgust

recoil = backward jerk

recoiled = suddenly pulled back

The knife, driven by the recoil of the spring tree, had not wholly failed.
Richard Connell -- The Most Dangerous Game

recoil = backward jerk

recoils = moves backward suddenly

"Gotcha," he said, and his hand recoiled like he'd fired.
David Almond -- Skellig

recoiled = moved back suddenly

"You jest," he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces.
Edgar Allan Poe -- The Cask of Amontillado

recoiling = moving backward suddenly

recoiled = suddenly moved backward (away from it)

...the lion turned toward him, but Thalia stepped into its path, holding up Aegis, and the lion recoiled.
Rick Riordan -- The Titan's Curse

recoiled = moved back suddenly

"A little revolver like this doesn't have much recoil," he said, "but it takes some getting used to."
Carl Deuker -- Gym Candy

recoil = backward jerk (when fired)

I nearly recoiled into my protective shell as the woman frantically ran toward me in thick, funny-looking wooden shoes.
Dave Pelzer -- The Lost Boy

recoiled = moved back suddenly

I squeeze the trigger, hard, and this time I'm ready for the recoil.
Veronica Roth -- Divergent

recoil = to move backward suddenly

...stirring up the scent of pine, and even then I knew I would recoil all my life from the smell of it.
Sue Monk Kidd -- The Secret Life of Bees

recoil = pull back suddenly

"You wash me," she said. She stepped into the water and turned her back to Eddie. Then she pulled the embroidered baro over her head.

He recoiled. Her skin was horribly burned.
Mitch Albom -- The Five People You Meet in Heaven

recoiled = suddenly pulled back

recoiled = moved back suddenly

At the sight of the young woman, the Savage started, recoiled, turned pale.
Aldous Huxley -- Brave New World
The big recruit goes down to his knees, ramming the recoil pad of his rifle against his shoulder, but he isn't hit, either.
Rick Yancey -- The Infinite Sea
I looked into her brown eyes and I recoiled.
Susanna Kaysen -- Girl Interrupted
The dog, coming suddenly upon him face to face among the rough tussocks, recoiled a moment, startled and confused.
Richard Adams -- Watership Down

Search for other examples by interest

Interest — Source