cringe

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as in to flinch
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission the puppy cringed when his master raised the rolled-up newspaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cringe distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cringe are cower, fawn, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When is cower a more appropriate choice than cringe?

The meanings of cower and cringe largely overlap; however, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When could fawn be used to replace cringe?

Although the words fawn and cringe have much in common, fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

When might toady be a better fit than cringe?

In some situations, the words toady and cringe are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

Where would truckle be a reasonable alternative to cringe?

The words truckle and cringe can be used in similar contexts, but truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of cringe For those who prefer less cringe, well, take it from Craig himself: There’s a new Marvel out. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 28 May 2025 Valerie often allowed her vanity and delusion to stand in her way, but also has a certain purity in her desire for mainstream success; viewers on the show’s wavelength might alternately cringe, laugh and feel deeply for her over the course of just a few minutes. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 5 June 2025 Come laugh, cringe, and cry through the unfiltered mess no one warned you about. Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 June 2025 This mirrors the division that emerged following the Zelensky showdown, where the MAGA base applauded the excoriation of the Ukrainian president while liberals — and traditional conservatives who remain deeply skeptical of Russian President Vladimir Putin — cringed. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cringe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cringe
Verb
  • Spieth struggled throughout his opening round and was seen wincing in pain several times, even losing hold of a club.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • Harper crumbled to one knee, wincing in anguish, as Phillies fans quaked with their worst possible nightmare — that their superstar first-baseman is seriously injured.
    Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Udoka would’ve been another strong fit, but Houston never flinched.
    Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2025
  • Each time, Putin has called his bluff and Trump has flinched.
    EDWARD FISHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Financial markets recoiled, and Mr. Trump paused most, but not all, of his tariffs.
    Daisuke Wakabayashi, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • Here's the news: Some Republicans recoiled at the Trump-Musk feud.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Regarding spending, those who cower from making cuts in Medicaid should read my lips.
    Star Parker, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
  • Cops searching the home found the 4-year-old girl cowering inside.
    Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cringe. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on cringe

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