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
There being fewer cringeworthy moments in press conferences is nice for me and my media brethren.
—
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Farewell tours can be cringeworthy.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Part of the show’s charm is Ashley and Gordon’s often weird relationship, mostly due to the latter’s cringeworthy moments.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
That said, there’s plenty about the series — which ran from 2003 to 2018 — that is very cringeworthy, represents major lapses of judgment and would never make it on the air today.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cringeworthy
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Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Farewell tours can be cringeworthy.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Part of the show’s charm is Ashley and Gordon’s often weird relationship, mostly due to the latter’s cringeworthy moments.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2026
That said, there’s plenty about the series — which ran from 2003 to 2018 — that is very cringeworthy, represents major lapses of judgment and would never make it on the air today.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cringeworthy
Cite this Entry
“Cringeworthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cringeworthy. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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