CRINGES Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

cringes

verb

present tense third-person singular of cringe

as in winces

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 flinches

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of cringes Payton cringes at the mention of a sophomore slump, that defenses will figure out Nix. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cringes

Verb

Toxicologist Fernández has stayed in touch with his patient and still winces about how Mark feared reporting the crime to the police could reflect poorly on him professionally.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Today, hardly anyone winces at its many iterations, from teeny-weeny bikini to the tankini in dots large or small.

— Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 24 July 2026

Definition of winces

Verb

Warner flinches not about a birthday that is often associated with the beginning of decline.

— Dan Pompei, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Advertisement Throughout the narrative, Johnson never flinches in his portrayal of the wreck, unleashing footage of investigators approaching the car and the victims’ families.

— Jake King-Schreifels, Time, 15 May 2026