Characters remaining: 500/500
Translation

Also found in: English - Vietnamese

cringing

Academic
Friendly

Sure! Let's break down the word "cringing."

Definition:

"Cringing" is an adjective that describes someone who feels very uncomfortable, embarrassed, or submissive in a situation. It often means that a person is reacting in a way that shows they lack confidence or are trying to avoid conflict.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "cringing" to describe someone's feelings or behavior when they are embarrassed or when they seem overly eager to please someone else.

Example:
  • "She felt cringing embarrassment when she realized she had made a mistake in front of the whole class."
  • "His cringing attitude around his boss made it clear that he was afraid of losing his job."
Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "cringing" can also describe a response to something that is awkward or uncomfortable to witness. For example: - "The cringing silence in the room after the joke fell flat was palpable."

Word Variants:
  • Cringe (verb): To react with discomfort or embarrassment. For example, "I cringe at the thought of giving a speech."
  • Cringer (noun): A person who cringes or acts submissively. For example, "He was often seen as a cringer in the group, always trying to agree with everyone."
Different Meaning:

"Cringing" can also refer to physically recoiling or shrinking back in fear or disgust. For example, "The dog cringed when the loud noise occurred."

Synonyms:
  • Cowering
  • Shying away
  • Flinching
  • Submissive
  • Timid
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren't specific idioms that use "cringing," you might hear phrases like: - "Crawling back" (which can imply a cringing behavior of trying to please someone after a disagreement). - "Biting your tongue" (which might describe the feeling of wanting to say something but holding back due to discomfort).

Summary:

"Cringing" describes a person who is feeling very uncomfortable or submissive, often in embarrassing situations. It can also refer to a physical reaction of shrinking back in fear or discomfort.

Adjective
  1. totally submissive

Comments and discussion on the word "cringing"