cringe-worthy

[Nathan Mckane]

What is the meaning of the following compound noun?

cringe-worthy

Does it mean disgusting or embarrasing?

Thanks.

[BobK]

Not disgusting, just embarassing. (Of course, the context might indicate that the speaker thinks the behaviour's disgusting.) The newly coined compound words 'cringe-worthy' and 'cringe-making' both sum up the expression 'it made me cringe' (that is, shrink away with embarassment).

b

[SoothingDave]

And not necessarily from your own behavior. You could be in a situation where someone else is embarrassing himself, and it makes you cringe.