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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“Looking back, it's so cringe because I just remember so clearly him sliding that piece of paper back to me and being like, ‘Fine.’
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
But many comments and shares called the video "cringe".
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
He tried to get rid of something that still makes me cringe: Conan’s nipple dance.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
I felt like if I could make myself cringe, then it was working.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
“A fellow like our friend the Spider,” answered Mr. Jaggers, “either beats or cringes. He may cringe and growl, or cringe and not growl; but he either beats or cringes. Ask Wemmick his opinion.”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
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
Moss opens up about his struggles to negotiate the demands of the practical world, while Hodgetts performs brilliant critiques of the others’ work, sometimes to broad smiles, others to cringes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2025
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
She cringes, and my soldier barks something sharp that must be telling him to stop.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
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
Sheehan and a few Meow Wolf companions cringed and laughed awkwardly, but they shouldn’t have felt surprised.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2023
The second time, I cringed in fear and shied away.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
“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
“We are cringing, as it could result in changes across our menus,” Ms. Hallman said.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
Reading through these items, I confess, I had a difficult time not cringing.
From Slate ● Dec. 1, 2023
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
Anborn went out and Gollum went cringing before him.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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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