as in to gaze
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
her friends stared in disbelief upon seeing her walking arm in arm with her ex-husband
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gaze
a fixed intent look
caught the child's wide-eyed stare on film
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 stare
Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Fans filed by and stared at this white man talking to these two Black people.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stare
Verb
Grandma turned in her wheelchair, angled her body to stare at the shadows cross-hatching and haunting the doorframe.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Fans filed by and stared at this white man talking to these two Black people.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
There is only the uncomfortable, glaring stare of two people who have been stuck together in the same room for longer than either would like.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Salerno claims her team was disqualified from the following meet and then began to face intimidating stares from the trans athlete at public events.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stare
Verb
-
Unlike some of Dubai’s city centre skyscrapers, where rooms are hermetically sealed within glass and steel, every accommodation comes with its own spacious balcony for lounging and gazing at the sun setting over the sea or the city lighting up at dusk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The two of them say nothing, instead just gazing at each other.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If gawking at celebrities is your thing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Passersby continued to gawk and gape as screams for the finale continued inside.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stare. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
