1. cringe - Noun
2. cringe - Adjective
3. cringe - Verb
To draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend or crouch with base humility; to wince; hence; to make court in a degrading manner; to fawn.
To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort.
Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility.
Source: Webster's dictionaryI cringe when critics say I'm a master of the popular novel. What's an unpopular novel? Irwin Shaw
I can't stand to see myself act. It just makes me cringe. Thomas Jane
Hell, the world isn't worth reforming or even aiding as I can see. Men are swine and most women are fools. Befriend a man and he'll betray you. Fondle a woman and she'll double-cross you – whip her and she'll cringe to you. Robert E. Howard
They stand not aloof with the gaping vacuity of vulgar ignorance, nor bend with the cringe of sycophantic insignificance. The graceful pride of truth knows no extremes, and preserves, in every latitude of life, the right-angled character of man. Thomas Paine
Five years from now I'm probably going to look back on the things I'm doing and cringe. Fiona Apple
The smartest people I know have that extra edge. The risk is always there that youll look terribly undignified and slobbering, and inside I cringe about that, but I should be more aggressive. Embeth Davidtz