as in shrinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in wincing
to draw back in fear, pain, or disgust
gruesome crime scene photos that made several jurors cringe
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cringing
Verb
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The staff member can be seen cowering down to fend off the attack and then turns and squares up to the irate passenger, who’s wearing a green colored top and army green pants.—
Michael Dorgan,
Fox News,
29 Nov. 2024 -
The trauma of war is ever-present in Honda's vision, which sees citizens fleeing for their lives and cowering in the rubble of their homes.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Washington has become the court of Nero: an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers, and a buffoon on ketamine tasked with purging the civil service.—
Claude Malhuret,
The Atlantic,
8 Mar. 2025
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However, these works — all written by men — portrayed Veronika as a fragile, submissive woman, passively awaiting her fate.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In recent weeks, a number of artists canceled planned appearances and resigned positions associated with the center.—
Julia Jacobs,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
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Some of the more jarring sequences remain amusing despite their brashness: At one point, for example, Mickey narrates a shocking vignette—about a psychopath on Earth who printed multiple copies of himself to carry out grisly murders—with the resigned, wary tone of an office worker.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Netanyahu appears convinced that his country’s security, along with his own political survival, depends on prolonging the military offensives and keeping both Gaza and Lebanon ungovernable, and therefore acquiescent.—
Mohanad Hage Ali,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Nov. 2024
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The young man’s comment was out of line, and my silence felt somehow acquiescent.—
Judith Martin,
The Mercury News,
21 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Largely deferential to Herro this season, this was the rare opportunity of Adebayo having the stage to himself . . .—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Mar. 2025
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Veterans groups, however, complained that the new court was too deferential to the VA when reviewing the agency’s decisions.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Brasfield said his shelters are compliant with the standards set in place by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.—
Asher Redd,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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The vendor has assured that the replacement equipment will be fully compliant with any mandates in accordance with Trump’s executive order, and the existing equipment’s software can be updated easily, Bailey said.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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These prices tend to reflect the higher yielding asking price versus the lower yielding bid price.—
Barnet Sherman,
Forbes,
31 Dec. 2024
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Net interest income for the quarter was $72.2 million, compared to $62.2 million in the previous year, driven by growth in higher yielding loans, primarily from CCBX.—
Quartz Bot,
Quartz,
8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Accommodating, which is unassertive and cooperative, prioritizes the needs and preferences of others over one’s own in order to maintain harmony.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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Shy and unassertive, she’s often been overlooked by others and kept to herself.—
Yasmine AlSayyad,
The New Yorker,
9 Jan. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Cringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cringing. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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