cringeworthy
/ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒˌwɝði/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.42 in modern English
24
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
11
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
That causes or may cause one to cringe with disgust, embarrassment (often vicarious embarrassment), etc.; awkward, disgusting, embarrassing.
Informal
Example Sentences
- "But the top goon's one-panel reform described by Robin on the last page was absolutely cringeworthy … especially since the author had so successfully built up his image as a first-rate shnook."
- "Lena Dunham's acclaimed show about the highs and lows – but mostly lows – of being young in the city ends its first season this week. We remember the cringe-worthiest moments we almost wish we didn't."
- "When most people think of cringe-worthy disco-era fashion, John Travolta’s breakout feature, Saturday Night Fever, comes to mind. But for even cringe-worthier disco styles, seek out Saturday Night Fever’s 1983 Sylvester Stallone–directed sequel, Staying Alive. In the follow-up, Travolta’s lovable, if cocky, dancer Tony Manero downgrades from his white disco suit to Grecian-style dancing briefs, cloth knee-high dancing boots, and enough body oil to warrant a “special thanks” in the credits."
- "The last word on words has spoken. Oxford Dictionaries chose "vape" as the word of the year. It was selected over cringeworthier choices such as "slacktivism" or "bae" – the latter a term of endearment that was a top contender for censorship in Time magazine's "Which Word Should Be Banned in 2015?" poll."
- "These ads aren't as bad as some of the worst ads from previous years – let us not forget the gross GoDaddy commercials, or the Nationwide "Dead Kid" commercial of Super Bowls past – but they’re definitely the cringeworthiest of an already forgettable crop."
- "After asking followers for their own embarrassing experiences, the topic quickly went viral, with other fans tweeting their cringe-worthiest moments."
Etymology
From cringe (verb) + -worthy (suffix meaning of ‘sufficient worth for, deserving of’), popularized by the surname of the character Cuthbert Cringeworthy, an extremely studious pupil introduced in 1972 into The Bash Street Kids, a comic strip by the Scottish cartoonist David Sutherland (1933–2023) published in the British magazine The Beano.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒˌwɝði/
- British English: /ˈkɹɪnd͡ʒˌwɜːði/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more cringeworthy (comparative)
cringeworthier (comparative)
most cringeworthy (superlative)
cringeworthiest (superlative)
cringe-worthy (alternative)