Meaning & use
withering look
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UK/ˈwɪðərɪŋ ˈlʊk/
US/ˈwɪðərɪŋ ˈlʊk/
Meaning
nouncountableliteraryfigurative
A cold, scornful stare meant to make someone feel foolish or ashamed.
Grammar: Usually used with give: give someone a withering look.
Patterns
- give someone a withering look
- a withering look from someone
She gave him a withering look when he made the joke.
A withering look from the teacher silenced the class.
He answered with a withering look and said nothing.
Word forms
| plural | withering looks |
|---|
Common combinations
- give a withering look
- My sister gave me a withering look.
- shoot a withering look
- He shot her a withering look across the table.
- a withering look of contempt
- She cast a withering look of contempt at the waiter.
- receive a withering look
- I received a withering look for my mistake.
- a withering look from
- A withering look from her mother ended the argument.
Synonyms and how they differ
- glare
- A glare is angry and hostile, while a withering look is more scornful and cold.
- scowl
- A scowl shows displeasure through frowning, whereas a withering look aims to belittle.
- dirty look
- Dirty look is more casual and can be about mild annoyance.
- sneer
- A sneer shows contempt with the mouth, often as a smile, while a withering look is mostly in the eyes.
Opposites
admiring glance
Word family
Commonly confused: withering look or withered?
withering look vs withered
Withered means dried up, as of a flower. A withering look makes others feel small.
Practice
Why did the teacher give the student a withering look?
Choose one answer.
A withering look expresses scorn. The other options are friendly or neutral and do not fit the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “withering look”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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