Cringe: meaning, definitions and examples

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cringe

 

[ krษชn(d)ส’ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

social media

To experience an uncomfortable feeling of embarrassment or awkwardness. It is often used to describe content that is awkward or embarrassing to watch.

Synonyms

flinch, shudder, squeamish, wince

Examples of usage

  • I cringe every time I see that video on TikTok.
  • Her awkward dance moves made me cringe.
Context #2 | Noun

internet slang

A feeling of embarrassment or discomfort caused by someone else's actions or words.

Synonyms

awkwardness, discomfort, embarrassment, unease

Examples of usage

  • The video was full of cringe.
  • I couldn't handle the cringe during the presentation.

Translations

Translations of the word "cringe" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น vergonha alheia

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคถเคฐเฅเคฎเคจเคพเค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Fremdscham

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ malu

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฝะตะทั€ัƒั‡ะฝั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ลผenada

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฅใšใ‹ใ—ใ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท gรชne

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ vergรผenza ajena

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท utanรง verici

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฏผ๋งํ•จ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅุญุฑุงุฌ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ trapnรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ trรกpnosลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฐดๅฐฌ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ neprijetnost

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ vandrรฆรฐa

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ าฑัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒฎแƒ”แƒ แƒฎแƒฃแƒšแƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ utancaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ vergรผenza ajena

Word origin

The word 'cringe' originated from the Old English verb 'cringan', meaning 'to yield or give way in servile fear'. Over time, it evolved to its current usage in the early 21st century, where it is commonly used in social media and internet culture to describe feelings of discomfort or embarrassment.

See also: cringeworthy.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,376, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.