1
as in to wince
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
gruesome crime scene photos that made several jurors cringe
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cringe
Over the past few years, generational warfare has only ramped up—so much so that it’s become boring to even reference: Gen Z hating on millennials for being cringe, millennials hating on Gen Z for being puritanical, and everyone hating on boomers for being, well, boomers.
—
Daisy Jones, Vogue, 3 May 2025
Even for some Republicans who would like to see more babies and larger families, the whole pro-natalist push is cringe in a bad way.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2025
So managing awkwardness, or cringe, can be a major concern.
—Myisha Battle, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
Fans were cringing, and not even Chandler’s signature optimism could mask what everyone was watching.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cringe
Daisy Jones, Vogue, 3 May 2025
Even for some Republicans who would like to see more babies and larger families, the whole pro-natalist push is cringe in a bad way.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2025
So managing awkwardness, or cringe, can be a major concern.
—Myisha Battle, Time, 29 Apr. 2025
Fans were cringing, and not even Chandler’s signature optimism could mask what everyone was watching.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cringe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cringe
Verb
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Goertzel winced, because the question is challenging.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
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Not just my face but also the faces of all middle-aged women who foolishly smiled, laughed, winced, frowned or squinted between birth and the year 2025.—
Gwen Rockwood,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
Verb
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When Afrikaner apartheid was instituted in 1948, Washington didn’t flinch.—
Time,
Time,
22 May 2025
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The game was scoreless until Amarillo scored twice in the top of the seventh, but Aledo didn’t flinch.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Advertisement Macron briefly recoils, turns his head, and then smiles and waves at the press.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
26 May 2025
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There’s no doubt that Trump and congressional Republicans recoil at the left-wing slant of PBS and NPR.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Mills said Maine would follow state and federal law on the issue, which was not the kind of cowering Trump was looking for.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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Drones struck from the sky, and residents cowered indoors as local Druse militia fighters battled government forces and armed Sunni extremists.—
Nanna Heitmann,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cringe. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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