cringe

play

verb \ˈkrinj\

Definition of cringe

cringed

;

cringing

intransitive verb
1 : to draw in or contract one's muscles involuntarily (as from cold or pain) … we cringe under the blasting wind … — Charles S. Houston
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 recoil in distaste Americans cringed … at the use of a term now regarded as a slur — William Safire

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

While some might cringe at the thought of such a concoction – after all, the famous Jack in the Box taco can be a divisive food – I thought it made perfect sense.

— greg morago, Houston Chronicle, "Jack in the Box tacos make a great casserole", 5 Jan. 2017
The slippery baby in the plastic blue tub cringes when her daddy, holding a drippy orange washcloth, leaks a bit of water in her face.

— erika hayasaki, The Atlantic, "Traces of Times Lost", 29 Nov. 2016
This is the one who cringed every time Donald Trump did something cruel, vulgar or misogynistic.

— david brooks, New York Times, "Fellow Trump Critics, Maybe Try a Little Listening", 22 Nov. 2016
Dr. Chung cringes a little, but acknowledges there are similarities.

— sumathi reddy, WSJ, "The Doctors Who Solve Medical Mysteries", 7 Nov. 2016
Blessed with searing groundstrokes that resonated especially well on clay courts, Stewart, who grew up in Miami, also possessed a work ethic that would make competitors cringe.

— cindy shmerler, New York Times, "Tennis", 23 Aug. 2016
Mr. Kirk said, referring to Senator Richard J. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, who was sitting two seats away and cringed mildly at the word choice.

— david m. herszenhorn, New York Times, "Mark Kirk in Electoral Vise as Republican in Illinois Senate Race", 5 Aug. 2016
The ain’t might have made grammarians cringe, but everyone else knew that this new American way of talking was all about breaking rules and cutting corners.

— ted gioia, The Atlantic, "The Year American Speech Became Art", 2 June 2016
In a campaign that has delivered a daily dose of head-shaking moments of awe, Mr. Trump on Thursday continued the trend, in a manner that made some Republicans cringe.

— jennifer steinhauer and alexander burns, New York Times, "Paul Ryan Says He Is ‘Not Ready’ to Endorse Donald Trump", 5 May 2016

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!

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

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

Tender, riotous, cringe-inducing, and occasionally obscene, Clare Barron’s play borrows its script from her own teen-age diaries.

— The New Yorker, "I’ll Never Love Again (a chamber piece)", 9 Jan. 2017
A look at some of the historic, amusing and cringe-inducing events of the race between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

— editorial board, Washington Post, "Republicans attempt to rig the vote by suppressing it", 7 Nov. 2016
After the plan to acquire the sculpture was announced last year, some critics called the artwork’s childlike theme cringe-inducing.

— mike mcphate, New York Times, "California Today: $2 More for a Pack of Cigarettes?", 30 Sep. 2016
But Mr. Ryan took the stage less as a swaggering adversary than a beleaguered middle manager in a workplace cringe comedy.

— james poniewozik, New York Times, "C-Span, Gun Control and a Protest Made for Streaming", 23 June 2016
Watch the whole amazingly cringe-worthy event above, and please, for all of our sakes, respect the artistry and presence of goddess Adele.

— lauren duca, Teen Vogue, "Don't DARE Try Filming Adele in Concert, When You Ought To Be Enjoying Her "In Real Life"", 30 May 2016
For the cringe-prone listener, this can be dangerous.

— sarah larson, The New Yorker, "The Human Comedy of Adam Wade", 19 Apr. 2016
Respect gives way to an involuntary cringe and the hope that this fine athlete will finally have the sense, win or lose, to walk away.)

— michael powell, New York Times, "Willie Wood Made the Most Memorable Play of Super Bowl I. He Has No Recollection", 4 Feb. 2016
So, the above clip—which features no blood, no jokes (that are funny), and some cringe-worthy dialog that builds into a confounding Reynolds butt shot—is very likely the worst scene in this movie.

— matt miller, Esquire, "This Deadpool Teaser Scene Is Guaranteed to Lower Your Expectations", 25 Jan. 2016

Origin and Etymology of cringe

see ¹cringe

NEW!

First Known Use: 1597

See Words from the same year

CRINGE Defined for English Language Learners

cringe

play

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

CRINGE Defined for Kids

cringe

play

verb \ˈkrinj\

Definition of cringe for Students

cringed

;

cringing

1 : to shrink in fear : cower … when you see a dog cringe … You know somebody's been kicking at him. — Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Shiloh
2 : to show disgust or embarrassment at something He cringed at the suggestion of eating liver.