to cringe

Examples

• All

• There were things I had to do in that courtroom that made me cringe.

  Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)

• I cringe every time you make fun of yourself.

  Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025)

• This story makes me cringe, so this says a lot.

  H3 Podcast

• I mean, I hear myself saying it and I want to cringe.

  Ghost (1990)

• I think about how old that makes me, and I cringe.

  Fiction book (2001)

• I still cringe when I think about how they cried.

  Florian's Knights (2021)

• I'm due to have another colonoscopy next year, and I cringe at the thought.

  Blog text (9)

• Much as I cringe at the publicity, I'm elated at the recovery.

  The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)

• Chicago lawyer Nina Fain cringes when she hears these stories.

  Academic text (2006)

• I couldn't help but cringe when I saw the embarrassing photos from the party.

Synonyms

W

to wince

vsto cringe

47 4.9

To make a quick face movement because of pain or dislike

is caused by embarrassment or awkwardness rather than pain or fear

F

to feel awkward

vsto cringe

21 2.8

Be uncomfortable or embarrassed when you are with other people

is a physical facial or backing reaction not limited to social settings

F

to facepalm

vsto cringe

• Texting

1 7.6

To put a hand over your face to show embarrassment or disbelief

is a facial or recoiling response showing awkwardness without the hand gesture

Antonyms

E

embrace

20 3.4

A warm, willing acceptance of someone or an idea

Compounds

C

cringe-worthy

• Informal

4 7.3

Making you feel embarrassed or awkward

C

cringe culture

• Literature

8.6

A social habit of criticizing or making fun of people for things seen as embarrassing, making others avoid sharing

How Embarrassed

to grimace

29 4.4

to cringe

28 4.9

to turn away

94 2.3

to blush

99 1.3

wince

6 5.3

Surface Forms

Etymology