STARING Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

staring

verb

present participle of stare

as in gazing

to look long and hard in wonder or surprise her friends stared in disbelief upon seeing her walking arm in arm with her ex-husband

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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 staring Now, yes, staring at the ceiling long enough to draw you a diagram of the paint peeling. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Flyers pile over the borders of their neighbours, a wave of absent faces staring back at drivers. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 June 2026 The banners of Hightower green burning in the night, Rhaenyra staring ominously through the flames. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026 The same priest from earlier baptizes her, and the video ends with Perry sitting upright in the baptismal bath, silently staring ahead. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 Tunisia, meanwhile, are staring at elimination after losing their first two matches and must spring a major surprise to have any chance of advancing. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 25 June 2026 Hidden within reflective bedside tables are images of her eyes staring back — among of dozens of Easter eggs scattered throughout. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 Both the Fastback and SUV roofed models are available staring at that same $29,950 price point. — New Atlas, 24 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for staring

Verb

Isn’t that what any of us wants when gazing into the mirror held up to nature, as Hamlet describes the theater?

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Soul gazing The following morning, the participants wake up with maybe the clearest heads in Nashville.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 2026

Definition of gazing

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 gawking

Browse Nearby Words

star (in)

staring

staring down

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“Staring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/staring. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of staring

verb

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