cringe

1 of 3

verb

cringed; cringing

intransitive verb

1
: to recoil in distaste
Americans cringed … at the use of a term now regarded as a slurWilliam 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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Since most consumers don’t feel like repainting their home every year, leaning too far into today’s 15-minute trends can tank a brand’s color credibility while leaving their customers cringing with regret. Tim Nelson, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2024 The whole scene feels freshly cut from some conversation in an undergrad gender studies class in the year 2024—the kind of conversation said undergrads will someday look back on and cringe over. Erik Kain, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
Critics drag Harris for ‘cringe’ pre-recorded video. Fox News, 18 Oct. 2024 There were moments where the banter surrounding this music carried a whiff of the historic cringe of Hillary Clinton hitting the Macarena during the 1996 DNC. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Some jokes are uncomfortably cringe and downright inappropriate — a Girls Gone Wild joke in a Muppets movie? Barry Levitt, Vulture, 20 June 2024 There is a cringe factor that works and a cringe factor that doesn’t. Rosa Escandon, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cringe 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cringe was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near cringe

Cite this Entry

“Cringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cringe. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on cringe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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