Categories: GeneralSynonyms

CRINGE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for CRINGE?

Need another word that means the same as “cringe”? Find 35 synonyms and 30 related words for “cringe” in this overview.

Table Of Contents:

Cringe as a Verb
Definitions of "Cringe" as a verb
Synonyms of "Cringe" as a verb (35 Words)
Usage Examples of "Cringe" as a verb
Associations of "Cringe" (30 Words)

The synonyms of “Cringe” are: cower, crawl, creep, fawn, grovel, flinch, funk, quail, recoil, shrink, squinch, wince, draw back, pull back, start, shy, shy away, blench, blanch, dodge, duck, crouch, shudder, shake, tremble, quiver, quake, kowtow, bow and scrape, toady, truckle, squirm, blush, flush, go red

Cringe as a Verb

Definitions of "Cringe" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “cringe” as a verb can have the following definitions:

Experience an inward shiver of embarrassment or disgust.
Show submission or fear.
Bend one's head and body in fear or apprehension or in a servile manner.
Draw back, as with fear or pain.

Synonyms of "Cringe" as a verb (35 Words)

blanch	Make white or pale by extracting colour. The cold light blanched her face.
blench	Make a sudden flinching movement out of fear or pain. A shudder shook the boy s frame and his face blenched.
blush	Show shyness, embarrassment, or shame by becoming red in the face. Her cheeks blushed in the cold winter air.
bow and scrape	Bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting.
cower	Crouch or curl up. Children cowered in terror as the shoot out erupted.
crawl	Swim by doing the crawl. Glazes can crawl* away from a crack in the piece.*
creep	(of a thing) move very slowly and inexorably. The fog was creeping up from the marsh.
crouch	Sit on one’s heels. We crouched down in the trench.
dodge	Move quickly to one side or out of the way. Adam dodged between the cars.
draw back	Take in, also metaphorically.
duck	To move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away. Before he could duck* another stone struck him.*
fawn	Have fawns. Deer fawn.
flinch	Make a quick, nervous movement as an instinctive reaction to fear, pain, or surprise. He had faced death without flinching.
flush	Remove or dispose of an object or substance by flushing. The sky flushed with rosy splendor.
funk	Draw back, as with fear or pain. I could have seen him this morning but I funked it.
go red	Stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point.
grovel	Act in an obsequious way in order to obtain someone’s forgiveness or favour. They criticized leaders who grovelled to foreign patrons.
kowtow	Kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom. He is always kowtowing to his boss.
pull back	Move into a certain direction.
quail	Draw back, as with fear or pain.
quake	(especially of the earth) shake or tremble. The rumbling vibrations set the whole valley quaking.
quiver	Cause (something) to make a slight rapid motion. The bird runs along in a zigzag path quivering its wings.
recoil	Spring back, as from a forceful thrust. He recoiled in horror.
shake	Shake a body part to communicate a greeting feeling or cognitive state. The escalation in costs is certain to shake* the confidence of private investors.*
shrink	Be averse to or unwilling to do (something difficult or unappealing. The metal is unsuitable for shrinking on to wooden staves.
shudder	(of a person) tremble convulsively, typically as a result of fear or revulsion. She still shuddered at the thought of him.
shy	(especially of a horse) start suddenly aside in fright at an object, noise, or movement. Don t shy* away from saying what you think.*
shy away	Throw quickly.
squinch	Draw back, as with fear or pain.
squirm	Wriggle or twist the body from side to side, especially as a result of nervousness or discomfort. He looked uncomfortable and squirmed in his chair.
start	Play in the starting lineup. The teacher can start* by capitalizing on children s curiosity.*
toady	Try to gain favor by cringing or flattering. She imagined him toadying to his rich clients.
tremble	Be in a state of extreme apprehension. I tremble* to think that we could ever return to conditions like these.*
truckle	Yield to out of weakness.
wince	Make a face indicating disgust or dislike. He winced at the disgust in her voice.

Usage Examples of "Cringe" as a verb

I cringed at the fellow's stupidity.
He cringed away from the blow.

Associations of "Cringe" (30 Words)

admit	Declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of. The paramilitaries admitted to the illegal possession of arms.
apology	A very poor or inadequate example of. He wrote a letter of apology* to the hostess.*
boggle	(of a person) hesitate to do or accept. The inflated salary of a star boggles the mind.
compensation	The action or process of awarding compensation. A compensation* claim.*
cower	Show submission or fear. Children cowered in terror as the shoot out erupted.
crawl	Feel as if crawling with insects. The tiny spider was crawling up Nicky s arm.
creep	(of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by means of extending stems or branches. Stones and earth slowly slip down the slopes by soil creep.
crouch	A crouching stance or posture. We crouched down in the trench.
duck	The meat of a duck as food. Before he could duck* another stone struck him.*
excuse	Defend explain clear away or make excuses for by reasoning. Please excuse* me from this class.*
flinch	An act of flinching. Don t call me that he said with a flinch.
gather	The act of gathering something. The destroyer gathered speed.
grovel	Lie or crawl abjectly on the ground with one’s face downwards. They criticized leaders who grovelled to foreign patrons.
groveling	Totally submissive.
heartfelt	(of a feeling or its expression) deeply and strongly felt; sincere. Heartfelt condolences.
huddle	A number of people gathered together to speak about private or secret matters. The colonel huddled with A J at the dining room table.
kneel	Supporting yourself on your knees. In church you have to kneel* during parts of the service.*
posture	Assume a posture as for artistic purposes. I got out of the car in an alert posture.
purloin	Steal (something. He must have managed to purloin* a copy of the key.*
rebound	The act of securing possession of the rebounding basketball after a missed shot. He blasted the rebound* into the net.*
recoil	The action of recoiling. His body jerked with the recoil* of the rifle.*
shrink	(of clothes or material) become smaller as a result of being immersed in water. You should see a shrink.
silently	Without making any sound. He silently* cursed himself for his actions.*
sincere	(of a person) saying what they genuinely feel or believe; not dishonest or hypocritical. Felt sincere* regret that they were leaving.*
sit	Be or remain in a particular position or state. Kelly had been cat sitting for me.
sneak	Someone who prowls or sneaks about usually with unlawful intentions. A sneak* preview.*
squat	In gymnastics an exercise involving a squatting movement or action. A squatty red smokestack.
stealthily	In a cautious and surreptitious manner, so as not to be seen or heard. We need to move stealthily* and look inconspicuous.*
stoop	Carry oneself, often habitually, with head, shoulders, and upper back bent forward. The man stoops his head.
wince	Make a face indicating disgust or dislike. He winced at the disgust in her voice.