SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
cringe
verb
To shrink back in fear or discomfort, or behave with excessive submission.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Shrink back
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topWince often responds to pain or embarrassment; cower suggests fear and a lowered posture.
Act submissively
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topFawn suggests excessive flattery; cringe emphasizes fearful or uncomfortable submission.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See cringe in use
The timid character would cringe whenever the stern supervisor approached.
A nervous messenger would cringe when the argument grew loud, shrinking back toward the doorway in visible discomfort.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license