cringeworthy

/ˈkrɪndʒwɜːði/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkrɪndʒwɜːrði/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkrinj-ˌwər-t͟hē/ (ame, mw)

cringeworthy — adjective

  • cringeworthypositive
  • more cringeworthycomparative
  • most cringeworthysuperlative

1. so awkward or badly judged that other people feel embarrassed for the person inv

1.形容詞C2
釋義

so awkward or badly judged that other people feel embarrassed for the person involved

例句

Joon posted a cringeworthy rap video that his classmates mocked all week.

cringeworthy + noun for online content

The host's cringeworthy joke made the guests stare at their plates.

cringeworthy + noun causing visible discomfort

同義詞
  • embarrassing

    broader and more neutral; it does not always suggest second-hand embarrassment

  • awkward

    weaker and wider; it can describe mild social discomfort without strong shame

  • painful

    informal and hyperbolic; often means the scene is hard to watch

反義詞
  • charming

    wins people over instead of making them shrink with embarrassment

  • smooth

    socially confident and not awkward

文法句型

cringeworthy + noun (joke, video, comment)

be + cringeworthy

find / call + noun + cringeworthy

用法筆記

Often used for jokes, posts, performances, or attempts to seem cool that produce second-hand embarrassment. It is more informal and more judgmental than merely embarrassing.

常見錯誤

❌I felt cringeworthy after forgetting her name.
✅I felt embarrassed after forgetting her name.
💡cringeworthy usually describes the thing that causes second-hand embarrassment, not the embarrassed person.
❌The meeting was very cringe.
✅The meeting was really cringeworthy.
💡in standard adjective position, cringeworthy is the safer full form.