glaring 1 of 2

glaring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of glare

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective glaring differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of glaring are flagrant, gross, and rank. While all these words mean "conspicuously bad or objectionable," glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper.

glaring errors

When would flagrant be a good substitute for glaring?

The words flagrant and glaring are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

In what contexts can gross take the place of glaring?

Although the words gross and glaring have much in common, gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits.

gross carelessness

When can rank be used instead of glaring?

The synonyms rank and glaring are sometimes interchangeable, but rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned.

rank heresy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of glaring
Adjective
The Buffalo Bills could use some help across several segments of their roster, but perhaps the most glaring area of need is at the wide receiver position. Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 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
Verb
An era of glaring inequality was also a golden age of graft. Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025 Getting into that Dodgers’ bullpen — the team’s one glaring weakness — is one of the keys to this series. Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for glaring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for glaring
Adjective
  • Bartz was struck by the boldness of the theft, noting that internal communications from Anthropic showed blatant awareness of the piracy.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Tragically, Putin’s blatant disregard for international law when invading and annexing Ukraine in 2022 is frequently compared to the American invasion of Iraq.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing stunning northern lights, or glowing curtains of green, red and purple light that ripple across the sky.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Traverse down glowing light tunnels to synchronized Christmas music.
    Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Now our favorite scowling friend is getting his own movie, too.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 15 Oct. 2025
  • In terms of my entry point to him, just understanding that this wasn’t a monster that was going to be scowling in the shadows and looking for any opportunity to hurt someone.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The single-minded obsession with Mamdani’s talk of affordability, while convenient for the mayor-elect and a vital part of his appeal, also misses an obvious point.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Could the Cavs tinker just a little more to take advantage of his efficiency and obvious talent, even when everyone else is healthy?
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Chamberlin Fire has been burning on federal land managed by the National Park Service for three hours.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The company built a retail and residential complex around the county’s Coconut Grove Metrorail station, and Martin also is pitching an incinerator site in western Miami-Dade as an alternative to the Levine Cava plan to rebuild the trash-burning facility in Doral.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • A lot of these schools are staring at declining enrollments, so money is tight on college campuses.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
  • And then on Thursday, after most of the show had been written, a man collapsed in the Oval Office, generating an instantly meme-able photograph of the president staring into the camera, looking oblivious to efforts to revive the prone victim at stage left.
    Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Our limo arrived at the hotel in a gleaming streak of silver gorgeousness.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Besides the gleaming blue hull, the 60-footer has an open layout that encourages sociability while promoting privacy in areas like the sunbed at the stern or foredeck lounge.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Due primarily to the timing of major studio film release dates, a weak first quarter was followed by a blazing hot second quarter, which then was followed by a softening third quarter.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Dudinha opened the scoring for San Diego, dribbling through the Current defense before blazing a shot through the legs of her Brazilian compatriot, Lorena.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Glaring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/glaring. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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