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cringeworthy

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: cringe-worthy

English

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WOTD – 24 June 2026

Etymology

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    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.[1]

    Pronunciation

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    Adjective

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    cringeworthy (comparative more cringeworthy or cringeworthier, superlative most cringeworthy or cringeworthiest)

    1. (informal) That causes or may cause one to cringe with disgust, embarrassment (often vicarious embarrassment), etc.; awkward, disgusting, embarrassing.
      Synonyms: cringe, cringey, squirmworthy, winceworthy
      • 1967 November, Guy Lillian, “Letters to the Batcave”, in Batman, number 196, Sparta, Ill.: National Periodical Publications, →OCLC, column 2:
        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.
      • 2012 June 15, Halle Kiefer, “The Ten Most Cringe-Worthy Moments on ‘Girls’”, in Rolling Stone‎[1], New York, N.Y.: Penske Media Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 June 2025:
        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.
      • 2012 August 25, Julie Miller, “The 25 Least Fashionable Films of All Time”, in Graydon Carter, editor, Vanity Fair‎[2], New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 January 2015:
        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.
      • 2014 November 18, Gail Sullivan, “Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year is ‘vape’”, in The Washington Post‎[3], Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 18 December 2014:
        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.
      • 2017 February 5, Maura Judkis, Bethonie Butler, “The five worst Super Bowl commercials”, in The Washington Post‎[4], Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 6 February 2017:
        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.
      • 2018 November 15, Jessica Rach, “‘I told Daniel Radcliffe he looked like a wizard’: Twitter users share their most hilariously embarrassing celebrity encounters – including mistaking Ed Sheeran for a waiter”, in Daily Mail‎[5], London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 3 June 2019:
        After asking followers for their own embarrassing experiences, the topic quickly went viral, with other fans tweeting their cringe-worthiest moments.
      • 2022 May 4, Stefanie Foster, “Great British Rail Sale Failed!”, in Rail, number 956, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 3:
        It also presented a golden opportunity for Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to wear silly outfits and produce yet another cringeworthy video, which attracted sharp criticism online.

    Alternative forms

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    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    References

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    1. ^ “cringeworthy, adj.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2023; “cringeworthy, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

    Further reading

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