scrutinizing gaze

USAGE SUMMARY

"scrutinizing gaze" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe someone's intense or close examination of something. For example: She followed him with her scrutinizing gaze, watching his every move.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He is an intense child, with a sharp, scrutinizing gaze, and his frankness can be almost cruel.

The New Yorker

You can reach Vertu either through a rear alley or by walking straight through the Hugo Boss showroom, past the scrutinizing gaze of that store's nattily dressed sales crew, to the back entrance of the building, which is marked by an austere gray banner bearing nothing more than the name of the company and a logo that looks like an abstract rendering of a raptor's outstretched wings.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Media scrutinizing relationships.

The New York Times - Magazine

Regulators are scrutinizing the I.P.O.

The New York Times

Those "bars," reflected in the couplets on the page, stand for the innate possessiveness of our gaze; the "you" whose happiness depends on the cage being made pretty is, partly, the reader, who is lured by beauty to the site of pain, and whose scrutinizing presence there turns a bedroom into a prison, or perhaps a zoo.

The New Yorker

Before scrutinizing the Oscar nominations.

Los Angeles Times

The public enjoyed closely scrutinizing Gillis' affairs.

Wikipedia

"With a piercing gaze, Mr. Dupin scrutinized the painting's colors, its signature, its composition, its brush strokes," The Times wrote.

The New York Times - Arts

MILLIONS know her as the ice queen of Thursday night: each week on "The Apprentice," NBC's hit reality show, Carolyn Kepcher crosses her thin arms, as if to restrain herself from throwing up her hands, her blue gaze brittle as she scrutinizes the diminishing group of candidates competing for a $250,000 job with her boss, Donald Trump.

The New York Times

With every remark, Halliday scrutinized Briggs, and because of his sky-blue eyes his gaze may have seemed more penetrating than he intended.

The New Yorker

Footage of the performance has been much scrutinized since then: Lambert, who is at least a foot shorter, gazes up at Shelton, who happens to be an Oklahoman, and who also happened to be, on that night, somebody else's husband.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scrutinizing gaze" to vividly describe a character's intense focus or suspicion, adding depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "scrutinizing gaze" excessively in dialogue; it's often more effective in narrative descriptions than in direct speech.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scrutinizing gaze" functions as a descriptive element, adding detail to the act of looking. It typically acts as an adjective-noun combination, modifying a subject within a sentence. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing an intense observation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scrutinizing gaze" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, primarily employed to describe an intense or careful examination through looking. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, noting its use in describing someone's focused observation. Though not very common, the phrase appears in reputable news sources, conveying suspicion, judgment, or detailed attention. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "intense stare", "searching look", or "piercing stare".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intense stare

Replaces "scrutinizing" with "intense" and "gaze" with "stare", focusing on the intensity of the look.

searching look

Substitutes "scrutinizing" with "searching", emphasizing the intent to find something through looking.

piercing stare

Replaces "scrutinizing" with "piercing", highlighting the sharp and penetrating nature of the look.

sharp observation

Shifts from the act of looking to the result of observing, focusing on the keenness of the observation.

close examination

Moves away from visual focus, highlighting careful attention to detail.

careful inspection

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the examination.

probing look

Conveys the intent to uncover something hidden.

analytical gaze

Highlights the intellectual nature of the looking.

discerning eye

Focuses on the ability to distinguish and evaluate details.

keen observation

Highlights sharpness and attention to detail in the act of observing.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "scrutinizing gaze" in a sentence?

Employ "scrutinizing gaze" to depict a character's intense observation, such as, "She fixed a "scrutinizing gaze" on him, searching for any sign of deception."

What are some alternatives to "scrutinizing gaze"?

Consider using alternatives like "intense stare", "searching look", or "piercing stare" to vary your descriptive language.

Is "scrutinizing gaze" formal or informal?

"Scrutinizing gaze" leans towards formal usage but can be adapted to neutral contexts to describe someone observing carefully.

What feeling or emotion does "scrutinizing gaze" convey?

The phrase often conveys a sense of suspicion, judgment, or intense focus, implying that the observer is looking for something specific or evaluating what they see.