cringeworthy
adjective
cringe·wor·thy ˈkrinj-ˌwər-t͟hē 
: so embarrassing, awkward, or upsetting as to cause one to cringe
a cringeworthy performance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Red Sox’ 15-30 record against American League East opponents is still cringeworthy. 
Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 And then a bunch of articles came out and said, 'That's so cringeworthy. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 Then a bunch of articles came out and said, 'That's so cringeworthy. Megan Thomas, CNN, 28 June 2022 The show’s approach to this rich, cringeworthy terrain of the human experience has taken on another life through the many memes spawned by its characters since its first season premiered on Netflix in 2019. Paula Mejía, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2022 Styles has put together an album that's so solid, even moments that would be cringeworthy when handled by lesser pop stars feel earned. Maura Johnston, EW.com, 16 May 2022 Some of those attacks have been more successful than others, but most are more cringeworthy than anything. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 14 Mar. 2022 Each moment is more cringeworthy than the next and distracts from his core message. Kenneth L. Khachigian, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 Her descriptions of homosexual relations behind the prison walls are cringeworthy to contemporary ears. Andy Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2022 See More
Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 And then a bunch of articles came out and said, 'That's so cringeworthy. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 Then a bunch of articles came out and said, 'That's so cringeworthy. Megan Thomas, CNN, 28 June 2022 The show’s approach to this rich, cringeworthy terrain of the human experience has taken on another life through the many memes spawned by its characters since its first season premiered on Netflix in 2019. Paula Mejía, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2022 Styles has put together an album that's so solid, even moments that would be cringeworthy when handled by lesser pop stars feel earned. Maura Johnston, EW.com, 16 May 2022 Some of those attacks have been more successful than others, but most are more cringeworthy than anything. Jacob Siegal, BGR, 14 Mar. 2022 Each moment is more cringeworthy than the next and distracts from his core message. Kenneth L. Khachigian, WSJ, 19 Jan. 2022 Her descriptions of homosexual relations behind the prison walls are cringeworthy to contemporary ears. Andy Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1977, in the meaning defined above