eye roll
noun
variants
or less commonly eye-roll
plural eye rolls also eye-rolls
: an upward turning of the eyes especially as an expression of annoyance, exasperation, disbelief, etc. : an instance of rolling the eyes
Historically, anyone who dares to give pro athletes mental advice—be they M.D.s, psychologists or shamans—often gets the eye roll or the pat on the back.—
Jaimal Yogis
Jaimal YogisContempt, one of the emotions Gottman watches for at the Love Lab, is detectable through the … buccinator, which pulls the lip corners to the side and creates a distinctly uncute dimple; it's often combined with an upward eye roll.—Casey Greenfield
Casey GreenfieldHis stories always took their time, his daughter said, and usually some winding turns, too. His family's eye-rolls only made him go slower.—Peter Schworm
Peter Schworm"Mom!" She gave me the parents-are-weird eye-roll. The truth is, though, she's proud of me.—Katha Pollitt
Katha PollittExamples of eye roll in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her embrace of holistic therapies has drawn some eye rolls in the press.
—Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 9 May 2025
How does this category not turn into an absolute mess of eye roll nominations and outrageous snubs?
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
This can manifest as blame, sarcasm, eye rolls or silence, which are all forms of communication that may send unintended messages.
When emotional safety is lacking, even routine conversations can feel charged.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
But more often than not, the sharp tongue and the sly eye roll serve a deeper purpose: survival.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for eye roll
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Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 9 May 2025
How does this category not turn into an absolute mess of eye roll nominations and outrageous snubs?
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
This can manifest as blame, sarcasm, eye rolls or silence, which are all forms of communication that may send unintended messages.
When emotional safety is lacking, even routine conversations can feel charged.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
But more often than not, the sharp tongue and the sly eye roll serve a deeper purpose: survival.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for eye roll
Cite this Entry
“Eye roll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye%20roll. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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