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as in gaping
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Recent Examples of yawning
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Yet the shooting also divided the American public in ways that many found disturbing, including a yawning lack of empathy for the victim and even cheering for the shooter.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
In Palm Beach County, Ian's yawning reach spun up four tornadoes.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2023
Wet Leg make fun of something that Harry Styles couldn’t quite capture in his cover of their song on BBC Radio 1: the yawning banality of male attention.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2022
Dellandrea still impresses: Stars forward Ty Dellandrea picked up his third assist of the season on Tuesday, working his way to a puck and finding Wyatt Johnston for a yawning cage in the second period.
—Dallas News, 25 Oct. 2022
But McNamara obtained the transcripts and discovered yawning contradictions.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2022
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York may be at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, but a more yawning gap between figures in the party has existed before.
—John Dickerson, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2022
Adjective
As such, anticipated spending cuts have not materialized and British Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announced tax hikes in her next Autumn Budget to fill a yawning fiscal hole that could be as much as £50 billion ($67.2 billion), although estimates vary.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Yet the shooting also divided the American public in ways that many found disturbing, including a yawning lack of empathy for the victim and even cheering for the shooter.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2024
In Palm Beach County, Ian's yawning reach spun up four tornadoes.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 10 Jan. 2023
Wet Leg make fun of something that Harry Styles couldn’t quite capture in his cover of their song on BBC Radio 1: the yawning banality of male attention.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2022
Dellandrea still impresses: Stars forward Ty Dellandrea picked up his third assist of the season on Tuesday, working his way to a puck and finding Wyatt Johnston for a yawning cage in the second period.
—Dallas News, 25 Oct. 2022
But McNamara obtained the transcripts and discovered yawning contradictions.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 9 June 2022
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York may be at opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, but a more yawning gap between figures in the party has existed before.
—John Dickerson, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yawning
Adjective
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James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Adjective
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This is the most gaping vacancy of all—Trump gestures toward two American incitements, one historic, one extremely recent.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
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Waldo’s digital shopping cart — and McCurdy’s brusque descriptions of her late-night binges — highlight the gaping, cavernous maw of her wants.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When Back Sleeping Isn’t the Move People with obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring should avoid it.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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People with obstructive sleep apnea or chronic snoring should be especially cautious, because gravity can pull the tongue and soft palate backward and block the airway.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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An autopsy showed that the infant died from asphyxiation secondary to a co-sleeping/overlay event with an unsafe sleeping environment.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Twelve students, including Brendan LaFave, the high-achieving kid from Ann Arbor, live in the three-story brown-brick house, which has white columns along its wide front porch.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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The top is designed with horizontal pleated detailing and cap sleeves, while the bottoms offer a simple, wide-leg silhouette with side pockets and a drawstring to adjust the fit to your liking.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bedard doesn’t have a single top-six caliber linemate to play with and still is sniffing a point-per-game season.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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There are people who are afraid, based on instinct or experience, and people who are allergic; people who cannot tolerate the crotch sniffing; people who simply believe that dogs, regardless of their position in the family, should not encroach on indoor space.—
Rachel Sugar,
Curbed,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Before Heuermann changed his plea, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney asked him to confirm details surrounding each murder as members of the victims' families were heard gasping and audibly crying in the courtroom gallery.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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Slayyyter shimmies onto the beat like an amoral John Waters heroine, cruising over the choppy momentum while recounting a toxic love affair in gasping Fred Schneider intonation.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Eyes wide, panting near panic, Foster perfectly captures the audience's own fear of being alone in the dark with a monster.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yawning. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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