rubbernecked

verb

past tense of rubberneck
as in stared
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise thoughtless drivers pausing on the highway to rubberneck at the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbernecked
  1. stared
  2. gawked
  3. gazed
Verb
  • From an underwater viewing area, Chinita Head, 52, stared past the glass alongside her 6-year-old nephew, Christian Walker.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • Dozens of members of Patriot Front stood in front of him and stared at the polycarbonate gates of the Metro system.
    — Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Definition of stared
Verb
  • Next Big Thing, have become the most talked about — and gawked about — in the run-up to Sunday’s World Cup final, when Messi’s Argentina will play Yamal’s Spain for the biggest trophy in the sport.
    — Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • By Thursday morning, only the awning was still standing amid the rubble, as passersby gawked and cars slowed down to survey what had happened.
    — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
Definition of gawked
Verb
  • Terrion Arnold walked across the draft stage in Detroit in April 2024, gazed out at a then-record crowd after being selected by the host city’s franchise and delivered a message to Lions fans tuning in to see their newest addition.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • Near 18th and Grand on the second double-decker Orange Bus during the mind-boggling Oranje Fanwalk on Thursday, KC2026 CEO Pam Kramer gazed back — and realized there somehow were as many people behind them as before them.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026
Definition of gazed
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.

Browse Nearby Words

rubberneck
rubbernecked
rubbernecker
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Cite this Entry

“Rubbernecked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubbernecked. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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