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to cringe
01
to draw back involuntarily, often in response to fear, pain, embarrassment, or discomfort
Intransitive
Examples
The loud thunder made the dog cringe in fear and seek shelter.
She could n't help but cringe when she saw the gruesome scene in the horror movie.
02
to exhibit a submissive or fearful reaction, often bending to authority or intimidation
Intransitive
Examples
The bullied student would cringe in the presence of his tormentors.
In the face of the intimidating boss, employees often cringed and complied with every demand.
Cringe
01
content, actions, or behavior that causes secondhand embarrassment or discomfort
SlangExamples
That TikTok is pure cringe.
The livestream was full of cringe.
