The meaning of CRINGE is to recoil in distaste.

CRINGE definition: to shrink back, bend, or crouch, especially in fear, pain, or servility; cower: They cringed and bowed before the king. See examples of cringe used in a sentence.

To cringe is also to pull back in fear from someone or something that seems powerful and dangerous:

Definition of cringe verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

cringe, n. & adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

Jan 8, 2026 · cringe (countable and uncountable, plural cringes) (countable) A gesture or posture of cringing (recoiling or shrinking). He glanced with a cringe at the mess on his desk.

What does “Cringe” mean? The slang phrase "Cringe" means 'really embarrassing.' When something is described as "Cringe", it implies that it is so awkward or embarrassing that it …

cringe (krɪndʒ) vb (intr) 1. to shrink or flinch, esp in fear or servility 2. to behave in a servile or timid way

Feb 7, 2017 · Cringe: When someone acts/ or is so embarrassing or awkward , it makes you feel extemely ashamed and/or embarrassed.

If you cringe at something, you feel embarrassed or disgusted, and perhaps show this feeling in your expression or by making a slight movement. We all cringed when she started picking up …