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USA slang
Embarrassing or awkward, often in a secondhand way
Safe to use?
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Tone
Casual and context-dependent.
Region
USA
Formality
Informal.
Context Decoder
Check what it means in context, how it sounds and whether it is safe to use.
cringe means Embarrassing or awkward, often in a secondhand way. It is best read as usa slang associated with USA.
"cringe" means Embarrassing or awkward, often in a secondhand way. In USA, the nuance may be more specific.
Casual and context-dependent.
Usually safest with people who already understand the context.
Context-dependent
Something embarrassing or a major fail, like an awkward moment
Difficult; hard (can be used to express a tricky situation or embarrassment)
Difficult; hard (can be used to express a tricky situation or embarrassment)
Difficulty; predicament; embarrassment (can refer to a tricky situation)
To expose someone's embarrassing information publicly.
An exclamation of mild alarm, embarrassment, or discomfort
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