'Cringe' definitions:

Definition of 'cringe'

(from WordNet)
verb
Draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf" [syn: flinch, squinch, funk, cringe, shrink, wince, recoil, quail]
verb
Show submission or fear [syn: fawn, crawl, creep, cringe, cower, grovel]

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

Words containing 'Cringe'