cringing
cringing Lexical Profile
cringing Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To experience an inward shiver of acute embarrassment, awkwardness, or distaste (present participle of cringe).
"Everyone in the audience was cringing as the speaker forgot his lines and stumbled through the presentation."
To bend one's head and body in fear, apprehension, or servile submission (present participle of cringe).
"The stray dog was cringing in the corner of the shelter until the veterinarian gently offered it food."
• adjective
Experiencing or expressing acute embarrassment, awkwardness, or inward discomfort.
"She gave a cringing apology after realizing she had accidentally replied to the entire company."
Behaving in an overly submissive, obsequious, or servile manner, often out of fear or a desire to curry favor.
"The tyrant surrounded himself with cringing courtiers who were too terrified to offer honest advice."
• noun
The act of shrinking back in fear, servility, or acute embarrassment.
"No amount of cringing or flattery could persuade the auditor to overlook the financial discrepancies."
• Rhymes for cringing
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the verb cringe, which comes from Middle English crengen and Old English cringan, meaning to yield, fall in battle, or bend.