cringe

[US]/krɪndʒ/
[UK]/krɪndʒ/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vi. flatter; shrink back
n. shrinking; flattery

Example Sentences

I cringed at the fellow's stupidity.

The dog cringed at the sight of the whip.

he cringed away from the blow.

Natives will cringe and squirm with embarrassment at such brashness.

The dog cringed when it saw my stick.

he cringed before the icy whiplash of Curtis's tongue.

You'll cringe at the exhibitionist. You'll despair at the cryer. And you'll run for the hills from the groper.

Real-world Examples

Even the term 'cringe' might someday be deemed 'cringe.'

Source: 2022 Celebrity High School Graduation Speech

Her soul cringed but she raised her head.

Source: Gone with the Wind

So, does moist make you cringe?

Source: Perspective Encyclopedia of Technology

It made me cringe every time.

Source: Lean In

Charlie rubs his head and cringes.

Source: Flowers for Algernon

Oh yeah! The acting is the definition of cringe!

Source: BBC Authentic English

A seated woman cringes as she massages her finger joints.

Source: The story of origin

High-performing teams depend on collaboration and candour, not cringing and compliance.

Source: The Economist (Summary)

She cringed back. " I … I did not see you" .

Source: A Dance with Dragons: The Song of Ice and Fire (Bilingual Chinese-English)

Hiro and Tadashi cringed at the closed sign hanging in the window.

Source: Big Hero 6 (audiobook)

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