cringy
Makes you wince
Cringy describes something that provokes secondhand embarrassment or discomfort—the feeling of witnessing someone else's awkwardness or failed attempt at being cool.
Often applied to social media posts, jokes that don't land, or desperate bids for attention: That video of him rapping at the wedding was so cringy.
Also spelled cringey.
Causing awkward self-consciousness
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
- squirmTwist from discomfort
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- grimaceTwisted expression of displeasure
stilted · clumsy · gauche · maladroit · fumbling · bumbling · inept · ungraceful
Light, repeated pressing
- fidget spinnerPalm-sized rotating distraction
- selfiePhoto of oneself
- yoloImpulsive action excuse
- swagStolen goods, slang
hashtag · squad goals · vlogger · millennial · teenage · adolescent · pubescent · edgy
Unaware of others' emotions
- indelicateLacking refinement or tact
- tone-deafCannot perceive pitch differences
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
- tastelessHaving no flavor
offensive · brash · boorish · uncouth · vulgar · rude · coarse · unrefined
Old-fashioned or courted
- passéNo longer fashionable
- staleNo longer fresh
- cornyTiresomely sentimental or trite
- cheesyCheap and insincere
lame · uncool · behind the times · dad joke · unfashionable · played out · has-been · forced
embarrassing
Causing awkward self-consciousness
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
- squirmTwist from discomfort
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
grimace · stilted · clumsy · gauche · maladroit · fumbling · bumbling · inept · ungraceful · gawky
dabbing
Light, repeated pressing
- fidget spinnerPalm-sized rotating distraction
- selfiePhoto of oneself
- yoloImpulsive action excuse
swag · hashtag · squad goals · vlogger · millennial · teenage · adolescent · pubescent · edgy · angsty
insensitive
Unaware of others' emotions
- indelicateLacking refinement or tact
- tone-deafCannot perceive pitch differences
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
tasteless · offensive · brash · boorish · uncouth · vulgar · rude · coarse · unrefined · crass
dated
Old-fashioned or courted
cheesy · lame · uncool · behind the times · dad joke · unfashionable · played out · has-been · forced · unironic
- slang adjectivescool, awesome, dope, lit, sick
- cringecringeworthy, secondhand embarrassment, facepalm, wince, yikes
cringyeffortless
Requiring no strain
natural · self-aware · genuine · authentic · unselfconscious
- cringe comedyComedy exploiting secondhand embarrassment
- cringe humorComedy exploiting awkward situations
- cringe contentUncomfortable material to witness
- cringe comediesEntertainment built on awkwardness
cringe, cringing, cringe-worthy, cringed, cringes, cringer, cringey, cringier, cringiest