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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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Nasal dilators are flexible devices designed to open the nostrils and improve airflow, often used to reduce snoring or ease nighttime breathing.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
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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
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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Elijah, however, didn’t account for his wide stance.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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The company called for tighter export controls, stronger protections against technology theft, and wider adoption of American AI systems across allied markets.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
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One minute your dog is sniffing happily through a spring walk.—
Diana Bocco,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Search the internet and there are coaches and players spotted sniffing the ammonia inhalants before a game, with their instant reactions — a noticeable head jerk or contorted face — going viral.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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But shortly before the screen cuts to black one last time, the lovers can be seen and heard gasping for breath, suggesting that Claire has used her special healing abilities to save Jamie.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
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Collapsed in it, more like, gasping for breath.—
Stephen King,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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For one, there’s Jean-Michel Basquiat’s monumental panting Museum Security (Broadway Meltdown), from 1983, set for Sotheby’s contemporary art sale on May 14, estimated at $45 million.—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yawning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yawning. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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