cringeworthy

adjective

cringe·​wor·​thy ˈkrinj-ˌwər-t͟hē 

: so embarrassing, awkward, or upsetting as to cause one to cringe

a cringeworthy performance

Examples of cringeworthy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Though the movie is accessible to new fans, there are plenty of winks and nods for diehards who can understand what might seem, to the uninitiated, like cheesy moments—a cringeworthy English rap verse, a scene parodying the product placement in K-dramas—as self-aware jokes. —Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025

For her, the '90s resurgence is equal parts thrilling and cringeworthy. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Some viewers even took to hate-watching the show, tuning in every week just to gawk at the latest episodes’ cringeworthy moments. —Andrew McGowan, Variety, 17 Aug. 2025

The emotionally frustrating one-act play at first feels cringeworthy due to cliche dialogue, but as the performance continues, the dialogue starts to feel more poetic. —Alexis Letang, Twin Cities, 2 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cringeworthy

• creditworthy
• untrustworthy
• blameworthy
• newsworthy
• noteworthy
• praiseworthy
• trustworthy
• unworthy
• worthy