Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I was cringing at having to accept help from someone I’d been very rude to.

From Washington Post • Feb. 23, 2023

“I was cringing a bit,” Ms. Butler said.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2021

“Everyone was cringing because Japan and China are rivals, and the Japanese and the Chinese are nervous about the president tilting too far towards the other side,” that person said.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2018

If he was cringing inside, no one could tell.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2018

Boatwright’s dæmon fell to the floor and rolled over, and Boatwright was cringing back, trying to hold his dæmon, trying to avoid the deadly white teeth of the vixen.

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman