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
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Recent Examples of stared
The blank walls stared at her, vacant pinholes made by previous tenants peering down like dark, shrunken pupils.
—
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
The caribou stopped eating and curiously stared at him.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
Researchers placed food near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Food was placed near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
UConn head coach Dan Hurley just helplessly stared at the ball in the air.
—Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Maurice stared up at the video board at center ice while the video played, remaining stoic.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
For anyone who has ever stared at a mysterious door, hatch, or panel in their home and wondered what was on the other side, Bareilles’ video serves as both entertainment and a cautionary tale.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Resting on a shelf and clinging to it with its paw, the possum stared ahead cautiously.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
The caribou stopped eating and curiously stared at him.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
Researchers placed food near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Food was placed near a person who either stared directly at nearby gulls or deliberately looked away.
—Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
UConn head coach Dan Hurley just helplessly stared at the ball in the air.
—Megan Armstrong, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Maurice stared up at the video board at center ice while the video played, remaining stoic.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
For anyone who has ever stared at a mysterious door, hatch, or panel in their home and wondered what was on the other side, Bareilles’ video serves as both entertainment and a cautionary tale.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Resting on a shelf and clinging to it with its paw, the possum stared ahead cautiously.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stared
Verb
-
In the first image, Cole gazed lovingly at the Little Women star, who wrapped her arm around his shoulder.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As the train pulled into the precincts of Guilin, Martha and Joost gazed out the window at a series of pointy green hills poking up out of bright-orange soil.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Still, other Coppin State runners gawked at his broad chest, bulging biceps and thick quads.—
Tyler Jett,
Des Moines Register,
21 Jan. 2026
-
They’re presented as endearing surprises of nature and life, celebrated rather than gawked at.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Noel peered into the small window in the door and knocked.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
At one hospital, Vitek peered into the mouth of a sick Russian teenager and saw the thick greyish-white membrane covering a third of his throat.—
Patricia Callahan,
ProPublica,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stared.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stared. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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