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
• conspicuous
• egregious
• flagrant
• gross
• obvious
• patent
• pronounced
• rank
• striking

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

But the addition of Ahmed to the infield mix has less to do with Luciano than rounding out one of their most glaring roster needs. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024

The Cardinals have a glaring need at wide receiver, and the 6-4, 205-pound Harrison is perhaps the best one to enter the draft since Ja’Marr Chase. —C.j. Doon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2024

Having solved first base for the time being, Milwaukee now will likely turn its sights to further addressing its glaring need for production at third base. —Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2024

But perhaps the most glaring evidence of the Democrats’ undemocratic agenda has been their unprecedented lawfare campaign against Trump. —Elizabeth Stauffer, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024

Facebook Show more sharing options There was a moment when writer and artist Elizabeth Salaam first moved to New York City and felt a glaring difference in her presence in a place. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024

There’s a similar glaring absence of research on precocious puberty in transgender children. —Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024

In retaining the material’s Arabic filigree, albeit with a glaring paucity of Arab actors in key Fremen roles, Villeneuve and his co-writer, Jon Spaihts, follow the text with a cautious, noncommittal blandness. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2024

Scientifically speaking, the impressive size of these sandworms may be their most glaring problem. —Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see glare entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

glaring

adjective

glar·​ing

ˈgla(ə)r-iŋ,

ˈgle(ə)r-

: painfully obvious

a glaring mistake

glaringly adverb

glaringness noun