recoil vs flinch

recoil and flinch both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
recoil	Yes	No	Yes	No
flinch	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, recoil and flinch are synonyms defined as:

Other synonyms of recoil include cringe, funk, quail, shrink, squinch, wince.

recoil (noun)	flinch (noun)
a movement back from an impact	a reflex response to sudden pain
the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired

recoil (verb)	flinch (verb)
spring back, as from a forceful thrust	draw back, as with fear or pain
draw back, as with fear or pain
spring back; spring away from an impact
come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect