The Best Ways to Make Someone Cringe

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Content creator Tobi Nwodo shares cringy slang trends that will make everyone wince

Co-authored by Tobi Nwodo and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: October 29, 2025 Fact Checked

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Cringe is that unique, shrinking feeling you get whenever you encounter something embarrassing or awkward. If you’re looking to mess with your friend or get revenge on a classmate by making them cringe, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of creative ways to make someone cringe, with help from content creator Tobi Nwodo. Keep scrolling to get your cringe on!

What makes people cringe?

Content creator Tobi Nwodo suggests using outdated slang or participating in old online trends to make someone cringe, since people typically cringe at things that are awkward, embarrassing, or inappropriate. Additionally, you could say skin-crawling words like “moist” or tell a terrible Dad joke.

1

Say something cringe-inducing.

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There are plenty of phrases you can use to get people to wince. Ever hear a word or phrase that made your spine shiver with bad vibes? If you’ve got a sharp tongue, find some cringey things to say and raise the hair on the back of your audience’s neck.^{[1]
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Research source} You might say:
- “Can you imagine what it would feel like if your teeth dragged against concrete?”
- “I wonder what it feels like to have centipedes crawl in your nose.”
- “Moist.” The word “moist” is known for making people cringe. It just brings up all kinds of icky feelings for some people.
- Looking for even more cringey things to say? Check out these cringey pick-up lines!
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Tobi Nwodo is a content creator who breaks down internet culture, memes, trends, and slang to his over 600k followers across YouTube and TikTok.

2

Tell a terrible joke.

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Bad jokes can make people shiver from secondhand embarrassment. Be super sincere and tell the joke publicly so that everyone around you can hear. By acting like you really think you’re funny and telling a genuinely terrible joke, you’ll get people shrinking out of second-hand embarrassment.^{[2]
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Research source} You could say:
- “You know what they call a can opener that doesn’t work? A can’t opener.”
- “I was going to go to the circus, but I didn’t. I heard it was too in-tents.”
- “What do you call a fake noodle? An im-pasta.”

3

Use outdated slang.

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Using old slang unironically can make people feel uncomfortable. According to Nwodo, “For someone to be considered cringy, they must do things that are deemed cringey online.” He says this typically involves using overused or outdated slang, as well as participating in old trends. However, he clarifies that “cringe can also just be someone who is annoying, obviously seeking attention, or virtue signaling and failing,” or “someone who is awkward and 'doesn't touch grass,’ or says things that are supposed to be cool but aren't.”^{[3]
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Expert Source

Tobi Nwodo
Content Creator

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- Nwodo provides some great examples of cringy phrases to say:^{[4]
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  - “I have so much aura.”
  - “My looksmaxxing isn't pulling any chicks.”
  - “Skibidi toilet.”
  - “I donated $1,000 to this streamer and they didn't give me a shoutout.”
  - “I keep texting this person, but they blocked me, so I kept contacting them.”
- As for some cringy trends to participate in, Nwodo provides these examples:^{[5]
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  - The Lorax suit meme
  - Commenting the Roblox screaming meme in messages or chats
- Nwodo adds that “another thing that is considered cringy is being an overbearing Discord mod, Reddit mod, or Twitch mod.”^{[6]
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4

Stare in an eerie way.

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A funny, creepy face will make people laugh and shy away. Bug your eyes out a little bit and make a face at whoever you’re trying to make cringe. You could raise an eyebrow and lower your chin like you think they’re cute, or puff your cheeks out a bit to make a goofy face. So long as your face is silly with a dash of spooky, people will cringe.
- Bonus points here if you can make the face while they aren’t looking and then get them to look at you.

5

Chew with your mouth open.

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The sound of food being chewed tends to induce a cringey feeling. If you’re at lunch or you’re snacking on some food, start chewing with your mouth open. If you want to be extra annoying, lean in close to someone’s ear while doing this. The sound of your teeth gnashing on something will send chills down your target’s spine.
- If you aren’t hungry, chew on some bubblegum!
- Sometimes, a simple sucking, popping, or sloshing sound is enough to set someone off.
- Did you know that cringing to sound could be linked to Misophonia or a hatred of sounds?^{[7]
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6

Pop bubblegum.

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Use some sugar-free chewing gum to blow bubbles and pop them with your tongue. You can even blow a bubble and lean into someone’s ear and pop it inside of your mouth slowly.

7

Rub a balloon.

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Blow up a balloon and slowly drag your fingers against the rubber. Your fingers will catch against the balloon repeatedly and cause this squeaky, high-pitched noise. That noise is sure to get your target shuddering and begging you to stop.

8

Pick something out of your teeth.

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Even if you don’t have anything in your teeth, pick your teeth with your nail. Lean in towards your target and scratch at your teeth with your finger so that it makes noise. If someone asks you what you’re doing, explain that you’ve got something stuck on your teeth. The image of your open teeth combined with the nail dragging against the enamel should stun your audience and make them cringe.
- Keep the gag going by leaning into your target and asking them if they can help you find the “food” you’re trying to get at.
- If you’re feeling especially gross, pick something out of your nose instead.

9

Run your nails on a chalkboard.

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Make a classmate shriek with one of the worst sounds imaginable. Curl your nails up like you’re making a claw and press your fingers into the chalkboard. Drag your nails against the chalkboard and watch your classmates reel in agony and annoyance.^{[8]
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- If you want to protect your nails, you can achieve a similar sound by dragging chalk in the opposite direction you’d use to write with it.
- If your school has whiteboards instead, try dragging a dead marker against the board over and over again.
- If you’re nowhere near a chalkboard, try dragging a knife against a ceramic plate.

10

Talk loudly on the phone about something private.

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Invent an embarrassing medical issue or parental conflict. Hold your phone up to your ear and walk around your target nonchalantly as if they aren’t even there. Have a fictional conversation with your doctor about something you just got checked out, or argue with your dad to let you go to clown college. The other person will cringe hearing all about your super embarrassing issues. You might say:
- “So, doctor, is it infected?...I don’t know, it still smells like ham, so…oh, yeah. Okay….but do I need to scrape the toe fungus off first?”
- “Look, Mom, I promise I’ll be back by noon, but you have to let me go to the dollhouse expo…I’ve been waiting all year…I even brought all of my dolls with me to school today!”
- “Listen, I dressed up as Santa last year. I was the Easter Bunny this year, there’s no way you’re convincing me to dress up like Cupid, dad…no…especially not with the baby bow.”

11

Get someone to relive an embarrassing memory.

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Nothing makes people cringe more than their own mishaps. If you want to make a specific person cringe, remind them of something they’d probably rather forget. You might reference the time they got in trouble in class, or remind them of that time they fell over and dropped their lunch tray. Bring up whatever experience they regret, and you’ll likely make them cringe.^{[9]
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- Just keep it casual. Say something like, “Hey Kevin, do you remember that time you asked Melissa out and she just giggled?”
- You might say, “You know what I remembered the other day? That time you slipped during the big game and gave up the ball. That was such an unfortunate event!”

12

Give a super sincere compliment.

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A lot of people find public compliments cringe-inducing. This works best if there are other people around to witness the compliment, and your target hates being in the spotlight. Out of nowhere, give a grandiose, sincere compliment. Lock eyes and smile. You can even hold your arms out like you want to give them a hug, so the lights really stay on them.^{[10]
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Trustworthy Source

Harvard Business Review
Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices

Go to source} You could say:
- “You know, I think it’s time we recognize just how good of a friend Kate is. She really is the most loyal, beautiful, and compassionate person. Everyone give it up for Kate!”
- “Gary, you know what…you really are the most stylish person I know. Look at those fancy socks, those beautiful cufflinks. Everyone, come look at Gary!”