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
EW.com, 28 June 2025
Introverts build massive followings by focusing on frameworks, methods, and results without the emotional oversharing that makes most professionals cringe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
But half the fun came from the characters’ reactions to this transcendent moment of cringe.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2025
The fear of being cringe or dating someone who is cringe can be a real barrier to connection, the one thing most daters are trying to find.
—Myisha Battle, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cringe
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Verb
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
Introverts build massive followings by focusing on frameworks, methods, and results without the emotional oversharing that makes most professionals cringe.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Noun
There were also moments of pure cringe brought on by Oakmont’s difficult greens.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
But half the fun came from the characters’ reactions to this transcendent moment of cringe.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Adjective
Janet says that this is cringe and sad at the same time.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 June 2025
The fear of being cringe or dating someone who is cringe can be a real barrier to connection, the one thing most daters are trying to find.
—Myisha Battle, Time, 29 Apr. 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 14 Jul. 2025.
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