What does the word cringe mean in this sentence the Americans cringe at the thought of a communist Vietnam?

To cringe is like to wince. A person almost physically pulls away, as if encountering something painful or upsetting. Americans cringe at the thought of a Communist Vietnam means we wince, we shudder, we dread and cringe at the mention of Communism, which is so different from our Democratic society. Most Americans despise Communism, because it abuses power against its citizens.