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
The branch fell hard to the ground, scattering bees and rubbernecks in all directions. — Ben Kesling, WSJ, 1 Aug. 2017 Not exactly—there’s only so many people there to buy art, and plenty of others are there to rubberneck. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026
Verb
Not exactly—there’s only so many people there to buy art, and plenty of others are there to rubberneck. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 15 May 2026 As a result, traffic between Morton Grove and Skokie has slowed to a crawl, and on the inbound side there has also been a slowdown due to rubbernecking. — Kris Habermehl, CBS News, 4 May 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 store becomes both destination and theatre, capturing domestic consumers, tourists and aspirational shoppers who may never step inside the All England Club.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • From Buc-cee's to barbecue, international tourists can't get enough of American culture.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of tourist
Verb
  • Instead, the skin-frying Friday saw common flow of people going through, gawking at the large screens and a group of sailors allowing some passing by to do pull-ups from a bar.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The walk to the stadium is a mile or so along the Alaskan Way, where restaurants like the Crab Pot are opening up, but everyone is gawking at the street spectacle.
    — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of gawk
Noun
  • Average transaction values for travel are still high, more than $31,000, but travelers are scrutinizing their receipts and pushing back when rate hikes don't come with better service.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of traveler
Verb
  • Now, yes, staring at the ceiling long enough to draw you a diagram of the paint peeling.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • In Taiwan, a student sitting for an entrance exam for a top medical school was discovered wearing smart glasses after proctors noticed the student staring oddly at the test, leading to an inspection that revealed the frame was emitting heat.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
Definition of stare
Verb
  • An 1812 portrait by Thomas Sully presented him with a long, downturned nose and corners of his mouth to match, leaning on one hand at his desk and gazing over the pages of an open book.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Terrion Arnold walked across the draft stage in Detroit in April 2024, gazed out at a then-record crowd after being selected by the host city’s franchise and delivered a message to Lions fans tuning in to see their newest addition.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 30 June 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rubberneck

Nglish: Translation of rubberneck for Spanish Speakers

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