quail | Definition of quail

Synonyms and Antonyms of quail

1 to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust

we quailed when the waiter unexpectedly presented us with a hindquarter of frog's legs

Synonyms of quail

blench, cringe, flinch, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince

Words Related to quail

blanch, pale, whiten

quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble

jerk, start, twitch

recede, retire, retreat, withdraw

falter, hesitate, reel, waver

Near Antonyms of quail

advance, approach, near

beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

2 to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission

brave resisters who did not quail before the tyrant's iron hand

Synonyms of quail

cower, cringe, grovel

Words Related to quail

flinch, recoil, shrink, squinch

blanch, blench, whiten

fawn, kowtow, toady