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re·coil
 recoil
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- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Parts
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| pronunciation: |
rih
koIl
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| inflections: |
recoils, recoiling, recoiled |
| definition 1: |
to draw or start back, as in disgust or horror.
- synonyms:
- shrink
- similar words:
- flinch, quail, react, retreat, shy, start, startle, wince, withdraw
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| definition 2: |
to move sharply in the opposite direction from an expended force, as a rifle moves against one's shoulder when fired.
- synonyms:
- kick
- similar words:
- bounce, jump, spring
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| definition 3: |
to cause damage by an unexpected return of negative effect.
The criticism recoiled against the critics.- synonyms:
- backfire
- similar words:
- backlash, boomerang, react, redound
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| related words: |
bounce, bridle, dread, kick, quail, rebel, retreat, spring, start, startle, withdraw |
adverb + (v.)recoil
immediately, instantly, physically, suddenly, visibly
(v.)recoil
+ adverb
close, fast, first, instinctively, kind, slightly, slowly, violently
(v.)recoil
+ noun
blow, disbelief, disgust, dismay, explosion, fear, idea, notion, odor, pain, prospect, smell, stream, suggestion, terror, thought, touch
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| pronunciation: |
ri
koIl
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| definition 1: |
the movement that is an object's reaction to its own action, such as the kick of a firearm.
- synonyms:
- kick
- similar words:
- backlash, flinch, kickback, reaction
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| definition 2: |
the act or an instance of recoiling.
- synonyms:
- shy
- similar words:
- backlash, bounce, flinch, jump, reaction, spring
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| related words: |
bounce |
adjective + (n.)recoil
comparable,
delicious,
effective,
extra,
feared,
heavy,
imaginary,
immediate,
initial,
light,
low,
noticeable,
orange,
powerful,
reduced,
repeated,
rubber,
scattered,
thick,
tiny,
total,
violent
[See all][See only the most frequent]
verb + (n.)recoil
absorb,
ache,
blow,
brace,
cause,
dampen,
draw,
fire,
hate,
hurt,
install,
jerk,
kick,
knock,
manage,
note,
pad,
push,
recover,
reduce,
reel,
relax,
rock,
shudder,
slam,
soak,
soften,
yell
[See all][See only the most frequent]
noun + (n.)recoil
absorption,
amount,
artery,
atom,
barrel,
blast,
bottom,
brake,
bullet,
cartridge,
electron,
energy,
felt,
fire,
force,
fps,
gas,
guide,
gun,
handgun,
handle,
horror,
impact,
kick,
knock,
load,
lug,
machine,
mechanism,
model,
momentum,
move,
muscle,
muzzle,
noise,
nucleus,
operation,
pad,
pattern,
peak,
pound,
proton,
reduction,
rifle,
round,
scope,
sensation,
shock,
shooting,
shot,
shoulder,
sight,
skin,
slug,
spring,
starter,
swing,
tank,
trigger,
velocity,
version,
weapon,
weight
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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The word recoil
contains the following part:
re-
Latin
prefix
that means again; back or back again
  More about this word part:
The prefix re-
occurs in verbs that are Latin loanwords, where it can mean "again" (revise
) or "back again" (reflect
). It also attaches to English verbs (replay
, rewind) with both meanings. Any verb can be prefixed by "re-
" to indicate that an action is repeated. No hyphen is necessary unless the word formed is identical to an existing word (re-sign the document, but resign
from a job).
Example words:
irrefragable, irremissible, irrevocable, re-coil, re-cover, react, reappear, rebuild, recall, recede, recoil, reconstruct, record, recover, redo, reflect, reflection, regress, reheat, relive, remissible, remit, remove, renew, renewal, repaint, repay, replay, replete, report, reporter, reservation, resign, resignation, respect, retract, reverse, reversible, revert, review, revise, revision, revive, revolve, revolution, rewrite, rebel, rebellious
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