cringe
- To contract one's face or body due to a feeling of disgust or embarrassment
While discussing her engagement on the phone with her friend, Laura realized that the thought of marrying Bob made her cringe with disgust.
- To shrink, bend, or crouch, from fear of being hit or hurt
In the 1800's, if a son spoke back to his father, the son would cringe as his father took out the rod to to impress on his son that children should not talk to their fathers that way.