'Cringe' definitions:
Definition of 'cringe'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Cringe'
From: GCIDE
- Cringe \Cringe\ (kr[i^]nj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cringed (kr[i^]njd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cringing.] [As. crincgan, cringan, crincan, to jield, fall; akin to E. crank.] 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. [1913 Webster]
- When they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions. --Bunyan. [1913 Webster]
- Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou Once fawned and cringed, and servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch? --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Cringe'
From: GCIDE
- Cringe \Cringe\, v. t. To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- Till like a boy you see him cringe his face, And whine aloud for mercy. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Cringe'
From: GCIDE
- Cringe \Cringe\, n. Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility. "With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious." --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'cringe'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- apple-polish,
- avoid,
- bend,
- bend the knee,
- bend the neck,
- bend to,
- blench,
- blink,
- bootlick,
- bow,
- bow and scrape,
- bow down,
- bow to,
- brown-nose,
- cower,
- crawl,
- creep,
- cringe to,
- croodle,
- crouch,
- crouch before,
- curtsy,
- defer,
- do homage,
- do obeisance,
- dodge,
- draw back,
- draw in,
- duck,
- eat dirt,
- evade,
- fade,
- fall back,
- fawn,
- flatter,
- flinch,
- funk,
- genuflect,
- get down,
- grovel,
- hang back,
- hunch,
- hunch down,
- jib,
- kneel,
- kneel to,
- knuckle to,
- kowtow,
- lick the dust,
- lickspittle,
- pull back,
- pull in,
- pull out,
- quail,
- quiver,
- recoil,
- reel back,
- retract,
- retreat,
- scrouch down,
- sheer off,
- shrink,
- shrink back,
- shy,
- sidestep,
- skulk,
- slaver,
- slink,
- sneak,
- squat,
- start aside,
- start back,
- stoop,
- swerve,
- toadeat,
- toady,
- tremble,
- truckle,
- truckle to,
- turn aside,
- wallow,
- weasel,
- weasel out,
- welter,
- wince,
- withdraw