Cringing (6)
I believe the answer is:
abject
'cringing' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for abject that I've seen before include "Obsequious or grovelling, as apology may be" , "Sorry" , "Wretched, worthless" , "Completely without dignity" , "Lacking all pride, say apology" .)