cringey

cringey

1. Inducing embarrassment, uncomfortableness, or awkwardness; cringeworthy. The spelling "cringy" is also used. I'm in no mood for lame guys and their cringey pick-up lines tonight. His speech was so cringey. I could barely watch.
2. Submissive, timid, or nervous. Quit being so cringey around the office—show some confidence!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • not know where to put (oneself)
  • not know where to put yourself
  • nome
  • Nome sane?
  • Nome sayin'?
  • nerd pack
  • sexual tension
  • tension
  • the path of least resistance
  • path of least resistance
References in periodicals archive
"When Tommy and I came second, we walked off stage together and it sounds a bit cringey but we just looked at each other and we were just like we don't care," she explained.
When he was mayor of London I quite liked his unkempt look, carefree demeanor, buffoonery and cringey photo calls.
"It's cringey af that Curtis thinks he can rap.#LoveIsland," one savage viewer wrote.
Admittedly, the execution was a little cringey and the styling could've been much better (what was up with those shoes?!), but we're so here for women of all ages letting loose, having fun, even redefining what it means to be a 'dadi'.
It's not just an hour of cringey flirting (although there is a bit of this in it), the best thing is the surprising and remarkable back stories of some of the people who appear on here.
I thought it was cringey and she was probably not enjoying it in a way that was smooth and fun.
Unimpressed viewers switched off during the first episode of ITV's new Saturday night show after slamming it as 'cringey'.
"You can use it as inspiration but it also makes you realise - without sounding cringey or cliched - the important things in life, what a privilege it is to pull on a jersey and train with a great bunch of lads.
There are loads more cringey scenarios as Norfolk's biggest (made up) celeb.
IT MIGHT sound a bit cringey - but bear with this, it just might work.
Watch out for a cringey pitch that sees two candidates huddled inside a two-person Christmas jumper.
I know the analogy will bring out the spidey sense in some folks out there, but cringey or not, I am not the Stan Lee of all this.
Seeing Kanye West in the White House in that stupid MAGA (Make America Great Again) cap - telling Donald Trump wearing it "made me feel like Superman" - was oh so cringey. West was invited by the President to discuss prison reform.
Not that Emma considers herself a celebrity, though: 'I don't like the word fame, it's such a cringey word,' she adds.
Fresh off his raunchy duet with Lady Gaga, his 13th studio album may be slightly cringey given Kelly is now in his 40s, but the unashamed crooner's still got it.