cringed; cringing
1
: to recoil in distaste
Americans cringed … at the use of a term now regarded as a slur—
William Safire
William Safire2
: 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
Charles S. Houston
cringer
noun
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
theringer.comExamples 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
John McDermott, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2025
Her post-Sisterhood career has featured roles in horror flicks (The Grudge 2), cringe comedies (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), medical dramas (House), and sitcoms (Two and a Half Men).
—EW.com, 28 June 2025
Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
The Chrisley family are ride or die through thick and thin — except in cases of extreme cringe apparently.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 June 2025
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Janet says that this is cringe and sad at the same time.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cringe
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Verb
What is transgressive, indie and anti-woke today will one day be normie, derivative, and cringe.
—John McDermott, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2025
Her post-Sisterhood career has featured roles in horror flicks (The Grudge 2), cringe comedies (The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret), medical dramas (House), and sitcoms (Two and a Half Men).
—EW.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
Posting always involves the risk of seeming cringe.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
The Chrisley family are ride or die through thick and thin — except in cases of extreme cringe apparently.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
The first-term council member deserves all the reprimands being heaped on her — most of all because the video that set off this pathetic episode is so cringe.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
Janet says that this is cringe and sad at the same time.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cringe
Cite this Entry
“Cringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cringe. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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