difficult to stare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to stare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is hard to look at, often due to discomfort or unpleasantness. Example: "The bright light was so intense that it was difficult to stare directly at it without squinting."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Under normal conditions, the Sun is so bright that it is difficult to stare at it directly.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's hard not to stare.

Independent

Maybe that will snap everyone out of their self-induced coma and force us all to address, in an honest manner, the very difficult questions that continue to stare us in the face.

HuffPost

Not overseen by Trump of course, but in the opportunity he will afford us, difficult as it is, to stare at our shadow over the coming four years, a mere blip in the course of history.

Huffington Post

This means we need to collectively evaluate difficult moral choices -- getting away from "win-win" solutions to stare down the barrel of challenging realities.

Huffington Post

He tries to stare dad down, but he is inches shorter and this is difficult to do.

Stanford University

Having the ability to stare life's challenges in the face is a big advantage, but it can be really difficult to do.

WikiHow

Ramsay continued to stare.

The New Yorker

I continued to stare.

The Guardian - Books

People try not to stare.

The New York Times

The boy continued to stare.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to stare", consider the specific reason for the difficulty. Is it due to brightness, unpleasantness, or an ethical dilemma? Clarifying this enhances the impact of your writing.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "difficult to stare" is not a common idiom. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnatural. Opt for more common alternatives like "hard to look at" or be more specific about the cause of the difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to stare" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the quality of something that makes it challenging or uncomfortable to look at. Ludwig AI provides examples where it's used to describe situations ranging from solar eclipses to confronting moral questions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to stare" is a grammatically sound but infrequent expression used to describe something challenging or unpleasant to look at. According to Ludwig AI, while understandable, its rarity suggests considering more common alternatives or providing specific context to justify its use. It appears primarily in news, media, and academic contexts, conveying subjective visual experiences with ethical or emotional implications. When using this phrase, clarity and context are key to ensuring effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to gaze upon

Replaces "difficult" with "hard" and "stare" with "gaze upon", emphasizing the effort required to look.

challenging to look at

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging", highlighting the demanding nature of the visual experience.

unpleasant to view

Focuses on the negative sensory experience of seeing something.

hard to keep looking at

Emphasizes the struggle to maintain visual contact.

awkward to behold

Highlights the discomfort or unease associated with watching.

something you avert your eyes from

Focuses on the avoidance of looking due to discomfort or distaste.

a sight to avoid

Highlights the negativity of the visual experience

an eyesore

Implies visual unpleasantness.

visually unappealing

Focuses on the lack of aesthetic appeal.

disturbing to watch

Emphasizes the unsettling nature of observing something.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to stare" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to stare" to describe something that is challenging or unpleasant to look at. For instance: "The accident scene was so gruesome that it was difficult to stare."

What's a more common alternative to "difficult to stare"?

A more common alternative is "hard to look at". You can also consider using "challenging to view" or "unpleasant to watch" depending on the context.

Is it ever correct to say "difficult staring"?

While "difficult staring" might be grammatically understandable, it's not a standard or commonly used phrase. "Difficult to stare" is the more idiomatic and widely accepted form.

What makes something "difficult to stare" at?

Something can be "difficult to stare" at for various reasons, including its intensity (like the sun), its disturbing nature (like a gruesome scene), or its complexity (like a confusing piece of art).