cringe

verb \ ˈkrinj \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: cringe in a Sentence

Definition of cringe

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

See cringe defined for English-language learners

See cringe defined for kids

Examples of cringe in a Sentence

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 of cringe from the Web

The app introduced a fatal self-consciousness: To my usual audience of online friends was added my own future self, cringing from a distance.

— daniel kolitz, New York Times, "Letter of Recommendation: Timehop," 26 June 2018
Fox Sports is cringing after paying a reported $425 million for the English-language TV rights for 2018 and 2022.

— mark zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Your guide to the World Cup you forgot was happening," 13 June 2018
The scent that Malle is arguably best known for, though, is Carnal Flower, whose ubiquity in New York fashion and social circles is a modern-day Joy or Fracas (though Malle would likely cringe at the notion of it being compared to any scent).

— jane larkworthy, The Cut, "Frédéric Malle Wishes He Invented Perfume," 5 June 2018
And despite feeling sympathy, and cringing in embarrassment for him, us, the audience, couldn’t stop watching.

— SI.com, "How Karius’ Kiev Nightmare Perfectly Demonstrates the Need for Villains Along With Heroes in Sport," 29 May 2018
And when his publicist went on television after last week’s verdict and compared Mr. Cosby to Emmett Till, the black teen who was murdered and disfigured in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of flirting with a white woman, people cringed.

— jason l. riley, WSJ, "Bill Cosby Couldn’t Pull the Race Card—Unlike O.J. Simpson," 1 May 2018
Those mixed messages made some Republicans close to departing House Speaker Paul Ryan cringe.

— philip elliott, Time, "Why Republican Lawmakers Aren't Backing Trump on Family Separations," 20 June 2018
When two-time Western and Southern Open singles champion and tennis legend Serena Williams withdrew from the French Open with a chest muscle injury, organizers of the Mason event likely couldn't help but cringe.

— dave clark, Cincinnati.com, "Serena Williams' injury has Western and Southern Open hoping for speedy recovery," 5 June 2018
While fans of the Texas Rangers await the return of Adrian Beltre from the 10-day disabled list, most might yawn or cringe at the DL news from Wednesday.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "The search for a fix continues for self-described work-in-progress Moore," 30 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cringe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cringe

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

cringe Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

cringe

noun

Definition of cringe

: a cringing act; specifically : a servile bow

Recent Examples of cringe from the Web

The second season of Netflix's hilarious baking show inspired by Pinterest fails is available on Netflix today, and it's filled with just as many cringe-worthy dessert disasters as season 1.

— olivia harrison, refinery29.com, "The Most Hilarious, Over-The-Top Moments From Nailed It! Season 2," 29 June 2018
The diss record is a medium that has long resulted in cringe-worthy lines: Gucci Mane once told Jeezy to dig up his dead homie.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "Pusha T, Drake, and the Limits of Rap Beef," 30 May 2018
See below for 7 cringe-worthy moments, and prepare audibly gasp at some (hello, #4).

— danielle tullo, House Beautiful, "8 Shocking Photos of Target Customers Being the Worst," 29 May 2018
There are other parts of his curriculum vitae that make the barons of golf cringe (and not undeservedly).

— tim layden, SI.com, "Patrick Reed Can't Be Denied as He Bucks Convention to Win at Augusta," 8 Apr. 2018
The food may make a barbecue purist from Texas, South Carolina or Tennessee cringe, but just about every dish is appropriately seasoned and executed.

— michael bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "At International Smoke, Mina & Curry fire up a delicious global grill," 12 Jan. 2018
And the best -- that is, most cringe-inducing -- part?

— gregory krieg, CNN, "Legal? Yes. Ethical? Meh. Our flimsy campaign finance and lobbying laws," 14 May 2018
Her adventures in the real world of crushes and mean girls lurch from one humiliation to the next, cringe-inducing but also authentic and funny.

— richard turner, WSJ, "Superhero Fatigue? Check Out These Indie Films," 10 May 2018
Maybe the finale will clear up what's been confusing, provide a logical explanation for what's been confounding, and make the character of Kristen Bayer-Boatwright less cringe-inducing.

— kristi turnquist, OregonLive.com, "'Here and Now': HBO's Portland-set drama has been an intriguing disappointment," 12 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of cringe

see ¹cringe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1597

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

CRINGE Defined for English Language Learners

cringe

verb

Definition of cringe for English Language Learners

: to feel disgust or embarrassment and often to show this feeling by a movement of your face or body
: to make a sudden movement from fear of being hit or hurt