GAPES Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

gapes 1 of 2

noun

plural of gape

as in stares

a fixed intent look I told him to stop staring, that his rather stupid gape was annoying

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gapes

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gape

as in gazes

to look long and hard in wonder or surprise she suddenly realized she had been gaping at the good-looking waiter instead of giving him her order

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of gapes

Verb

Straitjacketed inside the inescapable present, Pearl gapes up to discover that her husband, Walker, has found her; Walker was always going to find her. — Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gapes

Noun

The crowd sips matcha dragon fruit cocktails and stares, aghast.

— Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2026
Her wide eyes speak their own language of panicked blinks and observant stares.

— Judy Berman, Time, 15 July 2026

Definition of stares

Noun

Periscopes behind the eyes let visitors see across Black Rock City, and speaking tubes through the ears allow people on opposite sides to talk to each other.

— Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Your eyes will thank you College students often fall asleep without removing their contacts, especially when exhausted from late-night studying or over-intoxicated from partying.

— Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of eyes

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gapers

gapes

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“Gapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gapes. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gapes

noun

verb

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