Stare

/stɛɚ/

Synonyms for "stare" (110 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (22)

Adverb(1 words)
be amazedbe astonishedbe curiousbedroom eyesboreburn with curiositycome hither lookcome-hither lookcranecrane the neckdig around fordig upenquireenquirerenquiryevil eyeeye
Noun(2 words)
blazing glareeyeball
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)

Strong matches (33)

Related words (55)

glowerglowering lookgoggleinquireinterrogatelooklowermalocchiomarvelnose aroundnose around fornose outoglepeeppeerpenetrating lookqueryquestionquizrubber
Show 13 more words
rubberneckseeksnoopstand aghaststand on tiptoestare atstare downstare hardstare openmouthedwant to knowwatchwhammywonder

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: agaze, be amazed, be astonished, be curious, bedroom eyes.
  • Sentence evidence is available for stare, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wiktionary, opengloss, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "stare".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "stare"

Keep "stare" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "stare" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "stare", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "stare" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

8 entries
facial expressiongazelooklookinglooking atobservewatch

More specific

14 entries
blank starecurious staredeadpan staredisapproving staregapegawkgazegaze vacantlyglarehostile starepiercing starestare blanklysurprised stareunblinking stare

Collocations

10 entries
blank staredeadpan starefixed gazefixed stareintense starelong starepiercing gazepiercing starestaring contestunblinking stare

Inflections

3 entries

Derivations

1 entries

Translations

2 translations across 2 languages.

Powered by Wiktionary

Polish

1 entries
  • Stare name (village in Rogoźno, Oborniki, Greater Poland)

Ukrainian

1 entries
  • Старе́ name (village in Rogoźno, Oborniki, Greater Poland)

Sample sentences

20 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

People shouldn't stare at foreigners.

Source: tatoeba (21849)

Don't stare at people.

Source: tatoeba (52484)

It is rude to stare at strangers.

Source: tatoeba (52485)

My sister fixed me with an angry stare.

Source: tatoeba (245597)

Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "stare"?

Closest matches include agaze, be amazed, be astonished, be curious, bedroom eyes.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "stare"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "stare"