verb
Uncommon
cringe
KRIHNJ
Cringe (verb) means to flinch or shrink back in embarrassment, disgust, or fear. Example: “I cringed when I saw the old photos of myself from school.”
verb
1
To flinch or shrink back in embarrassment, disgust, or fear.
"I cringed when I saw the old photos of myself from school."
"He cringed at the sound of nails on a chalkboard."
noun
1
Something embarrassing to watch or witness, especially online.
"The whole video was pure cringe."
adj
1
Embarrassingly awkward or uncool (informal).
"That dance move was so cringe."
How to use cringe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo physically flinch, or (informally) to feel or cause secondhand embarrassment.
When to use it
The noun and adjective senses ("that's so cringe") are internet slang and very informal.
Common pairings
cringe at something
so cringe
a cringe moment
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Word forms
- Plural
- cringes
- Third person singular
- cringes
- Past tense
- cringed
- Comparative
- more cringe
- Superlative
- most cringe
- Archaic forms
- cringest, cringedst, cringeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I _____ when I saw the old photos of myself from school.
Etymology
From Old English crincgan/crenċan, "to yield or bend," ultimately from a root meaning "to turn" — the same origin as "crinkle."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cringe
See all rhymes for cringe →Frequently asked questions
What does “cringe” mean?
The word “cringe” means to flinch or shrink back in embarrassment, disgust, or fear. In plain terms, to physically flinch, or (informally) to feel or cause secondhand embarrassment.
How do you pronounce “cringe”?
“Cringe” is pronounced KRIHNJ (/ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cringe” in a sentence?
Here is “cringe” used in a sentence: “I cringed when I saw the old photos of myself from school.”
What part of speech is “cringe”?
Depending on how it is used, “cringe” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “cringe” come from?
The word “cringe” comes from Old English. From Old English crincgan/crenċan, "to yield or bend," ultimately from a root meaning "to turn" — the same origin as "crinkle.".
Is “cringe” a common word?
“Cringe” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cringe” have?
“Cringe” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to flinch or shrink back in embarrassment, disgust, or fear.
What is the difference between cringe as a verb and cringe as a noun?
As a verb, cringe describes the physical or emotional reaction of flinching back in embarrassment, disgust, or fear. As a noun, especially in informal and online use, cringe refers to the embarrassing content or moment itself that causes that reaction in an observer.
Is cringe formal or informal English?
Cringe as a verb is standard English, but its use as a noun or adjective, as in that video is so cringe, is informal and especially common in online and youth slang. In formal writing, it is best to stick to the verb form or use synonyms like flinch or wince.
What does it mean to call something cringe on social media?
On social media, calling something cringe means it is embarrassingly awkward or uncool to watch, often used about videos, posts, or behaviour that provokes secondhand embarrassment. This informal adjective use has grown from the older verb meaning to flinch in discomfort.
