recoil

(noun) the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired. Synonyms: kick.

(noun) a movement back from an impact. Synonyms: repercussion, rebound, backlash.

(verb) draw back, as with fear or pain. Synonyms: flinch, squinch, funk, cringe, shrink, wince, quail. Example: "She flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf."

(verb) come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect. Synonyms: backfire, backlash. Example: "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble."

(verb) spring back; spring away from an impact. Synonyms: bounce, resile, take a hop, spring, bound, rebound, reverberate, ricochet. Examples: "The rubber ball bounced." "These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide."

(verb) spring back, as from a forceful thrust. Synonyms: kick back, kick. Example: "The gun kicked back into my shoulder."