as in staring
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
she suddenly realized she had been gaping at the good-looking waiter instead of giving him her order
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gaping
David Pogue, CBS News, 30 June 2024
While fentanyl can easily cause a deadly overdose, the addition of xylazine further slows breathing and can result in painful, gaping and disfiguring wounds on the user's body.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 11 July 2023
Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Why was the Colorado State running back Jalen Dupree able to find gaping holes to run through?
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaping
Verb
And that is just a gaping fundamental hole with the entire structure.
—David Pogue, CBS News, 30 June 2024
While fentanyl can easily cause a deadly overdose, the addition of xylazine further slows breathing and can result in painful, gaping and disfiguring wounds on the user's body.
—Erika Edwards, NBC News, 11 July 2023
Adjective
There is a gaping hole in weather balloon coverage in western Alaska — a critical shortage bedeviling US forecasts and the National Weather Service since layoffs hit the agency as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s push to shrink the federal government back in February.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Why was the Colorado State running back Jalen Dupree able to find gaping holes to run through?
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaping
Verb
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Willow begins to whimper, and backs away from the door—but sits promptly down, still staring at it.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
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Making things with your hands will shift your brain into problem-solving mode and sparks creativity in ways staring at a screen never will.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The wide-leg look allows for plenty of airflow, making these a great staple for the warmer days of early fall.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Oct. 2025
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Their philanthropic efforts have supported a wide range of causes, including arts, education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the cringe-comedy antics of the original NBC series landed far better in Season 3 than in Season 1, once audiences began to truly love the characters instead of just gawking at them.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Nunn has a divided audience, as the Baddies show is fueled with drama, with Jerry Springer style fights to keep viewers gawking.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As such, anticipated spending cuts have not materialized and British Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announced tax hikes in her next Autumn Budget to fill a yawning fiscal hole that could be as much as £50 billion ($67.2 billion), although estimates vary.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
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Yet the shooting also divided the American public in ways that many found disturbing, including a yawning lack of empathy for the victim and even cheering for the shooter.—
Patrik Jonsson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The footage shows a tabby cat gazing out the window with her back to the camera while a small gray-and-white kitten sits beside her.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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The final shot sees Tom gazing out the window as a curtain gently sways in the warm breeze.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Defenseman Jacob Trouba stopped what seemed like a sure goal with his stick, helping goaltender Jakob Dostal by knocking away a shot headed toward an exposed side of the net.—
Josh Gross,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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Dolphins, being long-lived and highly exposed, can serve as nature's early warning system.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaping. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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