cringe

//krɪndʒ//
B2Frequency Level 11Colloquial
Visual representation of cringe

Verb

cringeInfinitive
cringePresent tense
cringedPast tense
cringedPast participle
cringingPresent participle
cringesThird-person singular
1

To shrink back or cower, especially in fear or disgust.

She cringed at the sight of the spider crawling toward her.

2

To feel intense embarrassment or discomfort, often on behalf of someone else.

I cringe every time I watch that old video of myself.

Noun

1

An act of cringing; a feeling of embarrassment or awkwardness.

I felt a cringe of embarrassment when I realized my mistake.

Adjective

cringeCanonical form
1

Causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness; extremely uncool or socially awkward.

That video of him dancing at the party was so cringe.

Synonym

Antonym