sunken eyes

USAGE SUMMARY

'sunken eyes' is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who looks very tired or sick, for example. "He had a pale complexion and sunken eyes, as if he hadn't slept in days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He folded lumbering gorillas with protruding jaws and sunken eyes.

The New York Times - Arts

She is pale, with sunken eyes, and physically weak.

The Guardian

"I know the gig is up," he said with sunken eyes.

The New York Times

Tall, broad-shouldered but underweight, with sunken eyes, he did not look well.

The New Yorker

"The deeply sunken eyes had opened again," Kessler notes, in a line that made me shiver.

The New Yorker

With his hunched shoulders and sunken eyes he looks caved in, almost collapsed.

The New York Times

The manic force behind his sunken eyes told the story of the movie.

The New York Times

He had come in dehydrated, with sunken eyes, too enervated to even cry.

The New York Times

His sunken eyes were masked by dark sunglasses instead of dark circles.

The New York Times

In their final days, each would suffer sunken eyes, would slink off alone in nonassociative ways.

The New York Times - Arts

They had sunken eyes, emaciated frames, swollen chapped feet and torn clothes barely covering their backs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sunken eyes" to vividly depict dehydration, exhaustion, or illness in characters or subjects. For greater impact, combine it with other descriptive details, such as "pale skin" or "listless posture".

Common error

Avoid using "sunken eyes" to describe someone whose eyes are naturally deep-set as a regular feature. "Sunken eyes" typically imply a temporary condition due to fatigue, illness, or malnutrition, not a permanent physical trait.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sunken eyes" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying a noun (usually referring to a person or creature). It enhances descriptions by providing a vivid detail about physical appearance, often associated with negative conditions such as illness or fatigue, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Wiki

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sunken eyes" is a descriptive phrase used to depict a physical characteristic often associated with negative health conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various sources, particularly in News & Media. When using this phrase, consider the context to avoid misinterpretations, and remember there are alternatives like "hollow eyes" or "tired eyes" for nuanced descriptions. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for diverse writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hollow eyes

Focuses on the depth and emptiness of the eye sockets.

deep-set eyes

Emphasizes the position of the eyes within the face.

shadowed eyes

Highlights the dark shadows around the eyes.

gaunt eyes

Suggests a worn or haggard appearance of the eyes.

tired eyes

Indicates fatigue reflected in the eyes.

fatigued eyes

Emphasizes the weariness visible in the eyes.

drawn eyes

Implies a strained or stressed look in the eyes.

bloodshot eyes

Highlights the redness and irritation in the eyes, often from lack of sleep.

under-eye circles

Focuses on the dark circles beneath the eyes.

bags under eyes

Describes the swelling or puffiness beneath the eyes.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone has "sunken eyes"?

Having "sunken eyes" typically suggests dehydration, fatigue, malnutrition, or illness. It indicates that the area around the eyes appears hollow or deeply set.

What are some other phrases I can use instead of "sunken eyes"?

You can use alternatives like "hollow eyes", "deep-set eyes" (though this can also be a natural feature), or "tired eyes" depending on the context.

How do you describe "sunken eyes" in a sentence?

You might say, "He had a pale complexion and "sunken eyes", as if he hadn't slept in days", or "The child's "sunken eyes" were a clear sign of dehydration".

Is "sunken eyes" a symptom of a serious condition?

While "sunken eyes" can be a sign of a minor issue like sleep deprivation, it can also indicate more serious conditions such as severe dehydration or malnutrition, especially in children and the elderly.