blench

UK: /blɛntʃ/ US: /blɛntʃ/ ,(blench)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

blench¹ /blɛntʃ/   v. [no object]

1. to make a sudden movement away from something because of fear;
   shrink;
   flinch;
   quail.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

blench¹  (blench), v.i. 

1. to shrink;
   flinch;
   quail:
   an unsteady eye that blenched under another's gaze.

• bef. 1000; Middle English blenchen, Old English blencan; cognate with Old Norse blekkja, Middle High German blenken

blench′er, n. 
blench′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

See wince. 

blench²  (blench), v.t., v.i. 

1. to make or become pale or white;
   blanch.

• variant of blanch¹ 1805–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

blench / blɛntʃ/ verb

1. (intransitive) to shy away, as in fear; quail

Etymology: Old English blencan to deceive