CRINGE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'cringe' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cringe are cower , fawn , toady , and truckle . While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility. // a cringing sycophant

Q: When is 'cower' a more appropriate choice than 'cringe'?

The meanings of cower and cringe largely overlap; however, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people. // cowering before a bully

Q: When could 'fawn' be used to replace 'cringe'?

Although the words fawn and cringe have much in common, fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention. // waiters fawning over a celebrity

Q: When might 'toady' be a better fit than 'cringe'?

In some situations, the words toady and cringe are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude. // toadying to his boss

Q: Where would 'truckle' be a reasonable alternative to 'cringe'?

The words truckle and cringe can be used in similar contexts, but truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior. // truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe

verb

ˈkrinj

Definition of cringe next

as in to wince

to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust gruesome crime scene photos that made several jurors cringe

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to flinch

to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission the puppy cringed when his master raised the rolled-up newspaper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cringe distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of cringe are cower, fawn, toady, and truckle. While all these words mean "to behave abjectly before a superior," cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

a cringing sycophant

When is cower a more appropriate choice than cringe?

The meanings of cower and cringe largely overlap; however, cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

cowering before a bully

When could fawn be used to replace cringe?

Although the words fawn and cringe have much in common, fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

waiters fawning over a celebrity

When might toady be a better fit than cringe?

In some situations, the words toady and cringe are roughly equivalent. However, toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

toadying to his boss

Where would truckle be a reasonable alternative to cringe?

The words truckle and cringe can be used in similar contexts, but truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

truckling to a powerful lobbyist

Examples of cringe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Audiences rarely fail to cringe when hearing politicians tell interviewers about their favorite sports team or rock band. —

Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 30 July 2024 Even cringe and earnest #Resist merch is back — now in the form of organic Kamala Harris merch. —

Christian Paz, Vox, 1 Aug. 2024 Nasdaq nosedived Alphabet cringed MetaMicrosoftAmazonApple Nvidia here Reuters reports a blog post 404 Media reportsThe Verge op-ed OpenAI’s new SearchGPT takes aim at Google in the battle for AI search dominance. —

Verne Kopytoff, Fortune, 26 July 2024 What turns us off — that inexplicable and sudden feeling of disgust and cringe — has taken up plenty of real estate on TikTok. —

refinery29.com, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cringe

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cringe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.