cringeworthy
adjective
cringe·wor·thy
ˈkrinj-ˌwər-t͟hē 
: so embarrassing, awkward, or upsetting as to cause one to cringe
a cringeworthy performance
Examples of cringeworthy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Prom season is here and so are memories of awkward poses, cringeworthy dresses and tasteless tuxedos.
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Jordan Kellogg, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2025
For readers under 40, GeoCities was once the world’s most popular web hosting service, giving users a free platform to create numerous, often cringeworthy (in hindsight) websites, with what's now a distinct retro aesthetic.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 14 June 2025
From the adorable childhood moments to the cringeworthy ones, here are Property Brothers stars Drew and Jonathan Scott's best throwback photos.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 10 July 2025
There’s no denying that the second-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car tipped the scale toward kitsch, adding flares, spoilers, and a set of cringeworthy decals—available as of 1973 as a $55 option—to an otherwise respectable design.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025
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Jordan Kellogg, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2025
For readers under 40, GeoCities was once the world’s most popular web hosting service, giving users a free platform to create numerous, often cringeworthy (in hindsight) websites, with what's now a distinct retro aesthetic.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 14 June 2025
From the adorable childhood moments to the cringeworthy ones, here are Property Brothers stars Drew and Jonathan Scott's best throwback photos.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 10 July 2025
There’s no denying that the second-generation Pontiac Firebird Trans Am muscle car tipped the scale toward kitsch, adding flares, spoilers, and a set of cringeworthy decals—available as of 1973 as a $55 option—to an otherwise respectable design.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cringeworthy
Cite this Entry
“Cringeworthy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cringeworthy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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