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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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
Men may cringe; women may laugh out loud.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
I’ve also seen much younger viewers cringe at the suggestion of staring at anything rendered in gray scale that has a running time longer than a “Twilight Zone” episode.
From Salon ● May 8, 2026
The scene captures the same sense of cringe that I felt whenever I heard a radio call sign that broadcast the user’s insecurity to everyone listening.
From Slate ● Apr. 13, 2026
I cringe, waiting for her to say something about my lack of a social life, but thankfully she’s quiet.
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
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
"I was in the studio and Lois texted me, 'By the way, we forgot our anniversary'," he cringes.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2025
Almut cringes at the idea of being commemorated in such a one-note fashion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 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
No one really cringes if I bump into them anymore, and people borrow my pencils without acting like the pencil has cooties.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
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
At first I cringed in anger that the comment had been made, but then I cringed in shame, knowing that in some ways the comment described me.
From Salon ● May 16, 2001
He would have cringed at the sight of the intruder’s weapon, whimpered, and crept away.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
“If you’re cringing about writing one performance review, imagine your manager who has to write 15 of them,” says executive coach Sabina Nawaz.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 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
But, while feeling less alone with your Face Hate might take the edge off, you still may be cringing at your reflection.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2023
For countries still constitutionally joined to the crown, Charles’s coronation arrived with little fanfare, and some cringing discomfort.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2023
I caught myself cringing, jumping at the sound of his voice.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
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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