cringe /krɪndʒ/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: Perhaps from Old English cringan 'to give up' ]
1 . to move away from someone or something because you are afraid:
A stray dog was cringing by the door.
She cringed away from him.
2 . to feel embarrassed by something you have said or done because you think it makes you seem silly ⇨ wince
cringe at
She cringed at the sound of her own voice.
It makes me cringe when I think how stupid I was.