cringe

1 of 3

verb

ˈkrinj 

cringed; cringing

intransitive verb

1

: to recoil in distaste

Americans cringed … at the use of a term now regarded as a slur

—William Safire

2

: to shrink in fear or servility

The terrified animal cringed in the corner.

3

: to behave in an excessively humble or servile way

beggars cringing to tourists for money

4

: to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain)

… we cringe under the blasting wind …

—Charles S. Houston

cringer noun

cringe

2 of 3

noun

: a cringing act

specifically : a servile bow

cringe

3 of 3

adjective

slang

: so embarrassing, awkward, etc. as to cause one to cringe : cringeworthy

a cringe moment

cringe comedy [=comedy involving jokes that make people uncomfortable]

It's hard to find a movie from the early 2000s that isn't a little cringe.

—theringer.com

Synonyms

Verb

• blench
• flinch
• quail
• recoil
• shrink
• squinch
• wince

Choose the Right Synonym for cringe

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior.

fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

Examples of cringe in a Sentence

Verb

Many English teachers cringe when their students use the word “ain't.”

I always cringe when I hear that song.

Just the thought of eating broccoli makes me cringe.

The dog cringed at the noise.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Fans were cringing, and not even Chandler’s signature optimism could mask what everyone was watching. —Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Jessica Biel is looking back on her 7th Heaven days — and cringing. —EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Noun

On the same episode, Biel remembered another cringe moment that was much less dangerous. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025

And not in the funny cringe way that Drew seems to be obsessed with Porsha. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Yes, Newsom’s new podcast is cringe, columnist Anita Chabria writes. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025

Robinson’s humor is wildly cringe and enjoyable as usual, as the physical comedy master has to say very little to elicit laughs. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Noun

1592, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1983, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cringe

• cringe comedy
• cringe-y

Rhymes for cringe

• binge
• fringe
• hinge
• singe
• tinge
• twinge
• impinge
• infringe
• syringe

Kids Definition

cringe

verb

ˈkrinj

cringed; cringing

ˈkrin-jiŋ

1

: to shrink in fear or distaste : cower

cringed at the sight of blood

2

: to behave in a too humble or cowardly way

cringer noun