as in tourist
a person who travels for pleasure
every year raucous rubbernecks by the busload descend upon the city for its famed Mardi Gras
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to gawk
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise
thoughtless drivers pausing on the highway to rubberneck at the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rubberneck
Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
Flimflam felt better in the mouth than swindle, and rubberneck was a more agreeable verb than crane.
—Ralph Keyes, Time, 1 Apr. 2021
Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 29 Dec. 2025
This is like a car crash that people rubberneck to get a look.
—Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rubberneck
Noun
Yet the car will likely obey speed limits, never get drowsy or drunk and never rubberneck or give in to road rage.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025
Flimflam felt better in the mouth than swindle, and rubberneck was a more agreeable verb than crane.
—Ralph Keyes, Time, 1 Apr. 2021
Verb
The other factor related to true-crime podcast popularity is that attraction to disaster and misfortune – like rubbernecking at the scene of a serious auto accident.
—Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 29 Dec. 2025
This is like a car crash that people rubberneck to get a look.
—Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner-Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rubberneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubberneck
Noun
-
Threatened by tourists, large-scale farming, and the changing modern world, the farm needs every family member on deck.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The favorable outcome for exporters could improve employment in industries like manufacturing or advanced technology, while the relative strength of foreign currencies could bring additional tourists and expand the hospitality sector, experts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Bystanders gawk and cheer from the sidewalks.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The town has become a popular destination for people who want to gawk at the extraordinary creatures.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The traveler confessed to extorting others to commit self-harm, the memo said.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Rhode Island tops a new study based on real traveler reviews, beating out Texas, New York, and Washington for romantic charm.—
Kristine Hansen,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Stevenson was forced to walk over to him, so that the two could perform the next part of the ritual and stare at each other, eye to eye.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Images of Robbie in looks from archival John Galliano to custom Dilara Findikoglu, often gazing up at co-star Jacob Elordi, himself in custom Bottega Veneta, have been crowding our social feeds for weeks, well ahead of the film’s February 13 release.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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The façade was pure marketing, with Schubert and Mozart gazing down on an arched display window that gave views into the rotunda.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rubberneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubberneck. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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