rubberneck 1 of 2

noun

ˈrə-bər-ˌnek How to pronounce rubberneck (audio)
Definition of rubbernecknext
as in tourist
a person who travels for pleasure every year raucous rubbernecks by the busload descend upon the city for its famed Mardi Gras

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rubberneck

2 of 2

verb

as in to gawk
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise thoughtless drivers pausing on the highway to rubberneck at the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rubberneck
Noun
Yet the car will likely obey speed limits, never get drowsy or drunk and never rubberneck or give in to road rage. — Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025 Flimflam felt better in the mouth than swindle, and rubberneck was a more agreeable verb than crane. — Ralph Keyes, Time, 1 Apr. 2021
Verb
So there’s no reason to rubberneck Tagovailoa’s career, praising his success, or celebrating his failures. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 Time to put fingers over your eyes, otherwise this is just rubbernecking. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rubberneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubberneck
  1. tourist
  2. gawk
  3. traveler
  4. stare
  5. gaze
Noun
  • The rifle is entrusted to the goat herder’s two young sons, who end up firing it from a mountainside at a coach filled with Western tourists just to see how far the bullet would go.
    — Ray Bennett, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Jolly identifies insurer taxes, a possible real-estate transaction fee and existing tourist taxes as funding sources.
    — Kevin M. McCarty, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of tourist
Verb
  • Pull some treats from the open coffin at Scotto Funeral Home, on the corner of Court Street and 2nd Place, then head to President near Hoyt to gawk at bloodstained windows and mutilated dolls.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The film opens with Tenzing as a boy, gawking at Mount Everest, which looms across the valley like Godzilla.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of gawk
Noun
  • Under the new measures announced Sunday, nonessential Congolese travelers will be returned through the nearest border crossing at their own expense, while those entering illegally face prosecution, the Ugandan ministry said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Sacramento County Department of Airports spokesperson Lindsay Myers said travelers will be able to access the new six-story parking garage starting one week before the holiday season.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of traveler
Verb
  • Nakira’s mug shot showed a young Black woman with dark hair gathered at the nape of her neck, green eyes staring intently into the camera.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Royals were out of the AL Central race by August and staring at another losing season.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stare
Verb
  • Scoring the best view For optimal sky-gazing, Petro suggested finding a place free of obstruction from trees or buildings, such as a large field.
    — Dharma Niles, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The fact that Drew still gazed upon my more than half-a-century-old, decidedly not-hot physique with love and desire was a marvel and a gift.
    — Diana Daniele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of gaze

Browse Nearby Words

rubberlike
rubberneck
rubbernecked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rubberneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubberneck. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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