staring face

USAGE SUMMARY

'staring face' is an acceptable expression used in written English.
It is usually used to refer to a face that has an intense and fixed look. For example: His staring face made me feel uneasy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Still influenced by Byzantine iconography, the staring face with big eyes has a startling immediacy.

The New York Times - Arts

Next morning at breakfast she could see herself sitting there, with her staring face like a radar dish following him around the room.

The New Yorker

The most arresting of them, at Feature, is encased in an extravagantly wrought gilded frame crowned by a big staring face with a light-up third eye.

The New York Times - Arts

Less usual is an image of a dandyish man leading a horse ridden by a small boy across a drip-fringed stage backed by radiating blue, and a seated semi-nude woman painted in shades of celadon, whose symmetrical form and staring face recall's Giacometti's early sculpture "Hands Holding the Void (Invisible Object)" of 1934.

The New York Times

The episode is presented in four acts, each beginning in total silence and with a close-up shot of Joyce's pale, staring face.

Wikipedia

Sitting up on a hill above the shore, its wide front is emblazoned with a bold, staring face, with eyes gazing directly down at "St.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Once in the city, however, the reserved Arlen found auditions — "all those glaring, staring faces" — "demeaning".

The New Yorker

It is a beautifully composed picture of four people whose bodies are rigid with tension, and whose staring faces illustrate different ways of looking hostile.

The New Yorker

The frozen quality of the staring faces, even when the sitters belong to the artist's closest circle, betrays the artificial character of this flirtation with Neo-Classicism.

The New York Times - Arts

We feel the pain of his nine-year-old daughter as she enters a classroom full of staring faces (of all ethnicities) and can't understand a word of the language.

The Guardian - Film

When Banks sings, in Stella Was a Diver, of a girl's conviction that building fronts conceal staring faces, he plunges you into a world of despair; the lyrics to Evil, meanwhile, sear with their suggestion of a relationship unhinged.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "staring face" to vividly describe a character's emotional state or reaction in a scene.

Common error

Refrain from repeatedly using "staring face" to describe characters as this can become monotonous. Instead, vary your descriptions with related phrases or focus on specific facial features to convey the same message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "staring face" functions primarily as a noun phrase, describing a particular facial expression or characteristic. It is often used to depict a state of shock, focus, or intensity, as exemplified in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "staring face" is a noun phrase used to describe a facial expression characterized by an intense and fixed gaze. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and serves to convey emotions like shock, focus, or intensity. While "staring face" finds primary use in News & Media contexts, with secondary use in Wiki, you can replace with alternatives like "fixed gaze" or "intense look" to add nuance. When you are writing, be careful not to overuse this phrase and instead vary your descriptions to keep your writing engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fixed gaze

This alternative focuses on the unwavering nature of the look.

intense look

This phrase emphasizes the intensity conveyed by the face's expression.

piercing stare

This option highlights the penetrating quality of the gaze.

blank expression

This emphasizes the lack of emotion or understanding in the face.

vacant look

This suggests an empty or absent-minded expression.

glazed eyes

Focuses on the eyes themselves, suggesting a lack of focus or awareness.

unblinking gaze

This highlights the steadiness and lack of movement in the stare.

frozen features

This phrase emphasizes the stillness and lack of expression in the entire face.

rapt attention

This alternative suggest a face showing complete absorption in something.

scrutinizing gaze

This option indicates a careful and critical examination conveyed through the face.

FAQs

How can I use "staring face" in a sentence?

You can use "staring face" to describe someone's intense or fixed expression. For example: "The close-up shot revealed the actress's pale, "staring face"."

What does "staring face" mean?

A "staring face" refers to a face with a fixed and intense gaze, often conveying emotions like shock, fear, or deep concentration.

Are there alternatives to "staring face"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "intense look", "fixed gaze", or "piercing stare" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "staring face"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the intensity or fixity of someone's gaze, often indicating a strong emotional or mental state. It can be also used to describe an inanimate object's appearance, especially when a face is emblazoned or designed on it, evoking a particular feeling or presence.