cringey

Or crin·gy

[krin-jee]

adjective

Informal.

1. causing a reaction or feeling of embarrassment, awkwardness, or discomfort; cringeworthy.

   The movie brought back my cringey middle school memories.

2. seeking favor by means of servile behavior or flattery.

   His talk show is mostly cringey interviews with celebrities.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cringey¹

First recorded in 1965–70; cringe ( def. ) + -y ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

That was unexpected and made me feel terrible for him, but again, I was grateful I didn’t have to watch the cringey moment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Ever since he was making early internet videos, Mooney has specialized in a variation on that awkward kid at your school in the late 1990s — or maybe it was you — the one who goes up to a stranger and mumbles a half-baked attempt at sounding cool and smart, or the one who swaggers and sings off-key on a cringey, self-serious rock song he wrote.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Speaking at an event at the Liberal Democrat conference, Sir Nick said the "endless knee-bending" was "slightly cringey" as he urged the prime minister to "speak up" for British values.

Read more on BBC

Cringey corporate memes and a swath of orange-hued profile pictures followed, with Adweek publishing a guide to the consumerist chaos.

Read more on Salon

You will immediately notice that his jokes often get nothing more than a cringey, forced laugh from his audience.

Read more on Salon