glaring

adjective

glar·​ing ˈgler-iŋ 

1

: having a fixed look of hostility, fierceness, or anger

2

a

: shining with or reflecting an uncomfortably bright light

b(1)

: garish

(2)

: vulgarly ostentatious

3

: obtrusively and often painfully obvious

a glaring error

glaringly

ˈgler-iŋ-lē 

adverb

glaringness noun

Synonyms

• blatant
• obvious

Choose the Right Synonym for glaring

flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable.

flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned.

flagrant abuse of the office of president

glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper.

glaring errors

gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits.

gross carelessness

rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned.

rank heresy

Examples of glaring in a Sentence

a glaring example of racism

no one missed the glaring spelling error in the title

Recent Examples on the Web

The Knicks’ most glaring hole in the roster is at backup point guard. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

But Stafford has been nifty within the pocket and mobile enough on rollouts, absent glaring breakdowns up front. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

The bizarre nature of targeting a running back is that the Cowboys have a far more glaring issue on the defensive side of the ball. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

But there is a glaring chink in the armor for the Rebels (6-0, 2-0), and that’s its run defense. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see glare entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for glaring

• airing
• bearing
• blaring
• caring
• chairing
• charing
• daring
• erring
• fairing
• flaring
• haring
• herring

Kids Definition

glaring

adjective

glar·​ing

ˈgla(ə)r-iŋ,

ˈgle(ə)r-

: painfully obvious

a glaring mistake

glaringly adverb

glaringness noun