flinch Add to list Share. To flinch is to react to pain by wincing, pulling away, or cringing. Often it's used to describe a person who shows a moment of weakness or fright: he was so tough, I thought he'd never flinch, but snakes really freak him out.

What does it mean if you flinch?

intransitive verb. : to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain : wince He flinched when he was presented with the car repair bill. also : to tense the muscles involuntarily in anticipation of discomfort I cannot help flinching when I hear the dentist's drill.

Why am I suddenly flinching so much?

When you have anxiety, neurotransmitters may be released even when there's no clear reason for them to be released. This is what can cause anxiety twitching. Another reason anxiety can cause muscle twitching is because it can cause you to hyperventilate. Muscle twitching is one symptom of hyperventilation.