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

For example, Freya's wedding planning is turned into a problematic and cringeworthy social media campaign by her agents, the Olivias, played by Emma Sidi and Hanako Footman.

From BBC

Oscar voters picked “Moonlight” over “La La Land” one year only to give “Green Book” the top Oscar two years later, rewinding to the cringeworthy, maudlin nostalgia peddled by fellow best picture winner “Driving Miss Daisy.”

From Salon

The secretary’s efforts to sound like a big boy have only grown more cringeworthy since the war started.

From Salon

He had previously engaged in the first of several cringeworthy pre-recorded sketches alongside his comedic stalker Jack Whitehall.

From BBC

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