cringe-worthy

A form of cringeworthy — That causes or may cause one to cringe with disgust, embarrassment (often vicarious embarrassment), etc.; awkward, disgusting, embarrassing.

Meanings

adjectivecringe-worthy (comparative more cringe-worthy or cringe-worthier, superlative most cringe-worthy or cringe-worthiest)

comparative more cringe-worthy · comparative cringe-worthier · superlative most cringe-worthy · superlative cringe-worthiest

  1. alternativeAlternative form of cringeworthy.

    After asking followers for their own embarrassing experiences, the topic quickly went viral, with other fans tweeting their cringe-worthiest moments.

    2018 November 15, Jessica Rach, “‘I told Daniel Radcliffe he looked like a wizard’: Twitter users share their most hilariously embarrassing celebrity encounters – including mistaking Ed Sheeran for a waiter”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 03 Jun 2019
    2 more examples

    Lena Dunham's acclaimed show about the highs and lows – but mostly lows – of being young in the city ends its first season this week. We remember the cringe-worthiest moments we almost wish we didn't.

    2012 June 15, Halle Kiefer, “The Ten Most Cringe-Worthy Moments on ‘Girls’”, in Rolling Stone, New York, N.Y.: Penske Media Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Jun 2025

    When most people think of cringe-worthy disco-era fashion, John Travolta’s breakout feature, Saturday Night Fever, comes to mind. But for even cringe-worthier disco styles, seek out Saturday Night Fever’s 1983 Sylvester Stallone–directed sequel, Staying Alive. In the follow-up, Travolta’s lovable, if cocky, dancer Tony Manero downgrades from his white disco suit to Grecian-style dancing briefs, cloth knee-high dancing boots, and enough body oil to warrant a “special thanks” in the credits.

    2012 August 25, Julie Miller, “The 25 Least Fashionable Films of All Time”, in Graydon Carter, editor, Vanity Fair, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Jan 2015
Cite this entry
APA

cringe-worthy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cringe-worthy

MLA

“cringe-worthy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cringe-worthy. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cringe-worthy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cringe-worthy.

Source: cringe-worthy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.