recoil

Noun

• a movement back from an impact

• the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired

Verb

• spring back, as from a forceful thrust
  • The gun kicked back into my shoulder
    

• spring back; spring away from an impact
  • The rubber ball bounced
    
  • These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide
    

• come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
  • Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble
    

• draw back, as with fear or pain
  • she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  repercussion , rebound , backlash , kick , kick back , bounce , resile , take a hop , spring , bound , reverberate , ricochet , backfire , flinch , squinch , funk , cringe , shrink , wince , quail