as in gazed
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
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 stared
Coach Jim Harbaugh stared back as the clock ticked — 19 seconds, 18, 17, 16, 15.
—
Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Daria stared at the arrangement of perfectly circular reddish bruises on the woman’s back, exposed by her halter top.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
The Ganzes got back on the road and made it to Missouri, stopping at a gas station where Rachel noticed a sign about a missing pet pony and pointed it out to Jon, who stared at it without saying anything.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The dog stared back at her owner with hopeful eyes, waiting for someone to play with her.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Goldberg stared blankly into the camera before fully burying her head in her arms.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
The sea, ever-churning just outside the beach house, but no longer busy being stared at by Conrad for hours on end, spewed forth an offering of fresh oysters with watermelon mignonette.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
While Jenner pouted her lips and flashed the peace sign, Aire stared at the camera.
—Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
For a moment, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels stared at the blue and white end zone inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Daniel Popper, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Daria stared at the arrangement of perfectly circular reddish bruises on the woman’s back, exposed by her halter top.
—Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
The Ganzes got back on the road and made it to Missouri, stopping at a gas station where Rachel noticed a sign about a missing pet pony and pointed it out to Jon, who stared at it without saying anything.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
The dog stared back at her owner with hopeful eyes, waiting for someone to play with her.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Goldberg stared blankly into the camera before fully burying her head in her arms.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
The sea, ever-churning just outside the beach house, but no longer busy being stared at by Conrad for hours on end, spewed forth an offering of fresh oysters with watermelon mignonette.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
While Jenner pouted her lips and flashed the peace sign, Aire stared at the camera.
—Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
For a moment, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels stared at the blue and white end zone inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stared
Verb
-
Who among us has not gazed at the stars and marveled at how our eyes are absorbing light that traveled thousands of years to reach us?—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Matisse dressed the part of a British gentleman and gazed at his conversation partners with a serenity that bordered on a trance.—
Christopher C. Gorham
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Drilling for progress As the rest of us gawked at Maye’s pinpoint accuracy on his 55-yard completion to Rhamondre Stevenson in the third quarter of last Sunday’s win — the longest of his career — Maye’s position coach smiled for a different reason.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Marcela lowered her voice and cautiously peered around.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Walker, 46, and his wife, Cassandra Troy Walker, 42, were at their oceanside home in Vancouver in May when Cassandra peered into the distance with binoculars and spotted a dolphin that was struggling.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stared. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share