cringe
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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But many comments and shares called the video "cringe".
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
A: When I interview portfolio managers and ask them what they’ve been reading for fun, I always cringe when they recite a list of business books.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
He tried to get rid of something that still makes me cringe: Conan’s nipple dance.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
Anytime I see a word like “bulletproof” — or any of its siblings like “sure thing” or “safe bet” — I cringe.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026
Joanna recognized their hate but wouldn’t cringe before it.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
He drives a Ford pickup truck and cringes at needing a security detail, according to a person who knows him well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
Bellamy says he now often cringes looking back at the enraged footballer, banning his own team from throwing their arms up in disgust as he was so prone to do.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2025
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” served up a symphony of social disaster over the course of 12 seasons and almost 24 years on HBO, wringing cackles and cringes from the misadventures of the serially inappropriate Larry David.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
I'm a loving person who cringes at everything associated with February 14, a fan of democracy who wants to hide every time July 4 rolls around and a very grateful individual who actively dislikes Thanksgiving.
From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2023
He cringes at the closeness of the bird’s large bill to his brother’s neck, wishing it would fly away.
From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley
Like almost every parent, I cringed whenever my child or another player headed the ball.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
“Daddy’s home,” someone said, and a nation cringed.
From Slate ● Nov. 16, 2023
The lead lawyer for Google "visibly cringed" when the specific share of ad revenue sent to Apple was revealed, according to Bloomberg.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2023
As a nurse attending births in the 1980s, Sojobi said, she cringed when she observed patients being hustled to the operating room if they hadn’t given birth by a set time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2023
“She’s pretty,” he added, then cringed, embarrassed that he had said that, and waited for Kira to tease him.
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
"Every time I see it, I'm cringing, I'm in disbelief," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Anyone beyond the land of candlepin bowling and cringing at red clam chowder thought they had a better shot at finishing at the bottom of the standings than reaching the Super Bowl.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026
These lies are so dumb and easy to disprove that the onetime criminal defense attorney in me is cringing.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2024
“We are cringing, as it could result in changes across our menus,” Ms. Hallman said.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
A cringing crater in the sand, and the sea screaming around him.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
Vocabulary lists containing cringe
The Lingo of Body Language
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"Of Mice and Men"
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List 13
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