Cringes

Am I the only one who cringes when I read this sentence?

Mikoto's real personality is timid and bashful, and he often cringes at his own advances toward girls.

MITCHELL, OREGON (CNN) — Matt McCaw cringes if you say the word “secessionist” around him.

Travis cringes when the word “hero” is uttered, pointed in his direction.

Carville cringes at the real possibility of those children going hungry.

Every year as the winter holidays come to a close, the general public collectively cringes as Valentine’s Day approaches.

I used to think I was being speculative and judgemental, until I read a similar confession from a friend of mine who’s a Florida resident, who said she cringes at their headlines much more often than a Floridian should have to.