What exactly does "cringe" mean?

"That's so cringe." If you spend any time online, you've seen this. It's the internet's favorite way to call something awkward. You may have heard it in German too, since "cringe" was voted the Jugendwort des Jahres in 2021. Here's how it works in English.

What makes something "cringe"?

To cringe is to feel so embarrassed or uncomfortable that you want to look away or hide, even when it's not happening to you. Think of your boss trying to use teenage slang, or finding your old Facebook posts from 2012.

• Listening to my old voice messages makes me cringe.
• Emma cringed when her husband started dancing at her friend's wedding.
• I still cringe when I think about that job interview.

Originally, "cringe" was only a verb. Online, people started using it as an adjective too, as in "That's so cringe." This use is informal and mostly heard among younger people. You'll also hear "cringey" and "cringe-worthy," which mean the same thing.

• His speech at the party was so cringey.
• Okay, that video is a bit cringe.
• The acting in that movie was cringe-worthy.

"Cringe-worthy" is the safest of these in more neutral or written English. "Cringe" as an adjective is best kept for chatting with friends.

Beyond embarrassment

"Cringe" isn't always about awkward moments. It can also describe a physical reaction to something unpleasant, like tensing your shoulders or scrunching up your face.

• She cringed as the dentist started drilling.
• I cringe every time someone scrapes their nails on a chalkboard.
• He cringed at the smell coming from the fridge.

Who knew one word could capture such a specific feeling so perfectly?

To get a better feel for "cringe," check out our Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs.