Main Entry: ¹cringe

Pronunciation: \ˈkrinj\

Function: intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s): cringed; cring·ing

Etymology: Middle English crengen; akin to Old English cringan to yield, Middle High German krank weak

Date: 13th century

1 : to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain)
2 : to shrink in fear or servility
3 : to behave in an excessively humble or servile way
4 : to recoil in distaste <Americans cringed…at the use of a term now regarded as a slur — William Safire>

synonyms see fawn

— cring·er noun