cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility. cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people. Verb Many English teachers cringe when …

Although he's been acting for years, he still cringes when he sees himself on screen. She cringes with guilt when she describes the way she behaved at the time.

CRINGE definition: to shrink back, bend, or crouch, especially in fear, pain, or servility; cower: They cringed and bowed before the king. See examples of cringe used in a sentence.

If you cringe at something, you feel embarrassed or disgusted, and perhaps show this feeling in your expression or by making a slight movement. Molly had cringed when Ann started picking …

Dec 19, 2014 · When you cringe, your body language shows you don't like what you see and hear. You close your eyes and grimace. You may even jerk your body away from the offensive …

Dec 14, 2025 · cringe (countable and uncountable, plural cringes) (countable) A gesture or posture of cringing (recoiling or shrinking). He glanced with a cringe at the mess on his desk.

to shrink back in fear, terror etc.

Cringe definition: To shrink back, as in fear; cower.

There are three meanings listed in OED's entry for the word cringe. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. It is also recorded as a verb from the Middle …

Many English teachers cringe when their students use the word “ain't.” I always cringe when I hear that song. Just the thought of eating broccoli makes me cringe. The dog cringed at the …