Cringe meaning : A posture or gesture of shrinking or recoiling. A servile obeisance. A crick. An embarrassing event or situation which causes an onlooker to cringe. Someone or something that is cringy. To shrink, cower, tense or recoil, as in fear, disgust or embarrassment. To bow or crouch in servility. To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort.