causing feelings of acute embarrassment or awkwardness

one of his cringey attempts at camaraderie

cringey sex scenes

it's cringey when you watch yourself back and I am not sure I will ever watch myself on this show

servile or timid; cringing

he was cringey and smarmy when Carstairs was there and called him all sorts of horrible names when he wasn't

they are fearful of losing their jobs, cringey to their bosses and to those in power