as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something
several onlookers gave chase after the thief grabbed the woman's purse
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Recent Examples of onlookers
Multiple media sources have recorded ICE agents threatening and using excessive force against onlookers.
—
Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026
The video also shows flames rising from a roundabout with onlookers recording the moment on their phones and cheering.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
As the man drops down on one knee, employees and onlookers can be seen filming and watching in surprise.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Another video showed people in the Iranian town of Galleh Dar toppling a monument dedicated to Khamenei’s predecessor and founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as flames rose from the roundabout and onlookers cheered.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
LaBeouf was held down by onlookers until officers arrived, police said.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Among the small number of curious onlookers were several students from nearby San Pedro High School.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
The constant presence of news crews, bloggers and curious onlookers has drawn mixed reaction from neighbors.
—Jacques Billeaud, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Editor’s Pick Living in the Age of Epstein The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has fascinated and horrified onlookers for more than a decade, Joshua Rothman writes, but only now have its pieces really snapped into place.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026
The video also shows flames rising from a roundabout with onlookers recording the moment on their phones and cheering.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
As the man drops down on one knee, employees and onlookers can be seen filming and watching in surprise.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
Another video showed people in the Iranian town of Galleh Dar toppling a monument dedicated to Khamenei’s predecessor and founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as flames rose from the roundabout and onlookers cheered.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026
LaBeouf was held down by onlookers until officers arrived, police said.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Feb. 2026
Among the small number of curious onlookers were several students from nearby San Pedro High School.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
The constant presence of news crews, bloggers and curious onlookers has drawn mixed reaction from neighbors.
—Jacques Billeaud, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Editor’s Pick Living in the Age of Epstein The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has fascinated and horrified onlookers for more than a decade, Joshua Rothman writes, but only now have its pieces really snapped into place.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onlookers
Noun
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Ticket prices for the game were high at the end of last week, and spectators will get the additional value of a performance on top of the original game, the Hawks said.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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Grandstands packed with spectators ring the closing holes.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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At least, that’s all Manning did during the 35-minute practice window opened to the various reporters, cameramen and other interested observers.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Mar. 2026
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One of the key pieces of evidence came from Bocos’s photographs on iNaturalist, a public biodiversity platform used by wildlife observers worldwide.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Founded in 2003, the Tennis Channel averaged 63,000 viewers in prime time last year.—
Lucas Shaw,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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The ability of a single image to evoke feelings of hope and acceptance in some viewers while unsettling others is a fascinating reality of our culture and one Opie is unbothered by.—
Fiona Sinclair Scott,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Onlookers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onlookers. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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