cringeworthy

American  

[krinj-wur-thee] / ˈkrɪndʒˌwɜr ði /

Or cringe-worthy

adjective

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

   They exchanged glances at the show’s cringeworthy attempts at humor.

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Other Word Forms

• cringeworthiness noun

Etymology

Origin of cringeworthy

First recorded in 1975–80; cringe ( def. ) + -worthy ( def. )

Example Sentences

The text exchanges contain nothing remotely illegal or related to Epstein’s crimes yet are cringeworthy enough as to have forced Mr. Summers to take leave from teaching duties at Harvard.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the one that arrives at the end of the ninth season’s first batch of episodes, now streaming, is perhaps the most cringeworthy, and a sobering reminder of how the show’s fantasy premise doesn’t always triumph over the realities of dating.

From Los Angeles Times

His misguided approach - often aped on the Accidentally Partridge social media account, which shares cringeworthy clips of public figures - is "provocative" but, Coogan hopes, "never mean-spirited."

From BBC

Star edge rusher Khalil Mack got his lower left arm crunched on a tackle, the TV replay was cringeworthy, and had to leave the game with an elbow injury.

From Los Angeles Times

The backups provided some cringeworthy moments in a 30-23 loss to the San Francisco 49ers — coach Jim Harbaugh’s old team — making some troubling gaffes in a sloppy second half in Santa Clara.

From Los Angeles Times