The backward jerk of a gun when it is fired.

synonym: kick.

Roget 623: abstention, abstinence; for bearance^†; refraining etc. v.; inaction etc. 681; neutrality.    avoidance, evasion, elusion; seclusion etc. 893.    avolation^†, flight; escape etc. 671; retreat etc. 287; recoil etc. 277; departure etc. 293; rejection etc. 610.    shirker etc. v.; truant; fugitive, refugee; runaway, runagate; maroon.    ... show more

Roget 145: reversion, return; revulsion.    turning point, turn of the tide; status quo ante bellum; calm before a storm.    alternation etc. (periodicity) 138; inversion etc. 219; recoil etc. 277; retreat, regression, retrogression etc. 283; restoration etc. 660; relapse, recidivism etc. 661; atavism; vicinism^†; ... show more

Roget 287: recession, retirement, withdrawal; retreat; retrocession etc. 283^†; departure, etc. 293; recoil etc. 277; flight etc. (avoidance) 623.    ... show more

Roget 603: unwillingness etc. adj.; indisposition, indisposedness^†; disinclination, aversation^†; nolleity^†, nolition^†; renitence^†, renitency; reluctance; indifference etc. 866; backwardness etc. adj.; slowness etc. 275; want of alacrity, want of readiness; indocility etc. (obstinacy) 606^†.    scrupulousness, scrupulosity; qualms of conscience, twinge of conscience; delicacy, demur, scruple, qualm, shrinking, recoil; hesitation etc. (irresolution) 605; fastidiousness etc. 868.    averseness etc. (dislike) 867^†; dissent etc. 489; refusal etc. 764.    ... show more

Dutch: terugslag
Polish: odrzut

A movement back from an impact.

synonyms: backlash, rebound, repercussion.

Roget 277: recoil; reaction, retroaction; revulsion; bounce, rebound, ricochet; repercussion, recalcitration^†; kick, contrecoup [Fr.]; springing back etc. v.; elasticity etc. 325; reflection, reflexion [Brit.], reflex, reflux; reverberation etc. (resonance) 408; rebuff, repulse; return.    ducks and drakes; boomerang; spring, reactionist^†.    elastic collision, coefficient of restitution.    ... show more

Draw back, as with fear or pain.

synonyms: cringe, flinch, funk, quail, shrink, squinch, wince.

Roget 603: be unwilling etc. adj.; nill; dislike etc. 867; grudge, begrudge; not be able to find it in one's heart to, not have the stomach to.    demur, stick at, scruple, stickle; hang fire, run rusty; recoil, shrink, swerve; hesitate etc. 605; avoid etc. 623.    oppose etc. 708; dissent etc. 489; refuse etc. 764.    ... show more

Roget 623: abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt; not do etc. 681; maintain the even tenor of one's way.    eschew, keep from, let alone, have nothing to do with; keep aloof keep off, stand aloof, stand off, hold aloof, hold off; take no part in, have no hand in.    avoid, shun; steer clear of, keep clear of; fight shy of; keep one's distance, keep at a respectful distance; keep out of the way, get out of the way; evade, elude, turn away from; set one's face against etc. (oppose) 708; deny oneself.    shrink back; hang back, hold back, draw back; recoil etc. 277; retire etc. (recede) 287; flinch, blink, blench, shy, shirk, dodge, parry, make way for, give place to.    beat a retreat; turn tail, turn one's back; take to one's heels; runaway, run for one's life; cut and run; be off like a shot; fly, flee; fly away, flee away, run away from; take flight, take to flight; desert, elope; make off, scamper off, sneak off, shuffle off, sheer off; break away, tear oneself away, slip away, slink away, steel away, make away from, scamper away from, sneak away from, shuffle away from, sheer away from; slip cable, part company, turn one's heel; sneak out of, play truant, give one the go by, give leg bail, take French leave, slope, decamp, flit, bolt, abscond, levant, skedaddle, absquatulat [U.S.], cut one's stick, walk one's chalks, show a light pair of heels, make oneself scarce; escape etc. 671; go away etc. (depart) 293; abandon etc. 624; reject etc. 610.    lead one a dance, lead one a pretty dance; throw off the scent, play at hide and seek.    ... show more

Dutch: huiveren, stuipen

Come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect.

synonyms: backfire, backlash.

Spring back; spring away from an impact.

synonyms: bounce, bound, rebound, resile, reverberate, ricochet, spring, take a hop.

Roget 277: recoil, react; spring back, fly back, bounce back, bound back; rebound, reverberate, repercuss^†, recalcitrate^†; echo, ricochet.   

Roget 145: revert, turn back, regress; relapse etc. 661; recoil etc. 277; retreat etc. 283; restore etc. 660; undo, unmake; turn the tide, roll back the tide, turn the scale, tip the scale.    ... show more

Dutch: veren, zwiepen

Spring back, as from a forceful thrust.

synonyms: kick, kick back.