cringe

¹cringe

intransitive verb \ˈkrinj\

cringedcring·ing

Definition of CRINGE

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>

— cring·er noun

Examples of CRINGE

1. Many English teachers cringe when their students use the word “ain't.”
2. I always cringe when I hear that song.
3. Just the thought of eating broccoli makes me cringe.
4. The dog cringed at the noise.

Origin of CRINGE

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

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CRINGE

Synonyms

blench, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince

Related Words

blanch, pale, whiten; quake, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble; crouch; jerk, start, twitch; recede, retire, retreat, withdraw; falter, hesitate, reel, waver

Near Antonyms

advance, approach, near; beard, challenge, confront, defy, face

See Synonym Discussion at fawn

Rhymes with CRINGE

binge, dinge, fringe, hinge, singe, springe, swinge, tinge, twinge, whinge

²cringe

noun

Definition of CRINGE

: a cringing act; specifically : a servile bow

First Known Use of CRINGE

1597