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 2024 three-part docuseries American Nightmare dives headfirst into several thought-provoking issues, like victim blaming and the glaring inadequacies in the criminal justice system. —James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025

Campbell has been everything the Patriots could have hoped for so far this season, and his lack of arm length has not been a glaring issue. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025

Las Vegas has many problems on both sides of the ball, but the offense is the most glaring weakness. —Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025

It’s already identified glaring holes in popular software, including the Chrome web browser, and its success suggests that widespread automatic patching of security flaws may be just around the corner. —Big Think, 24 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