glaring

adjective

glar·​ing ˈgler-iŋ 

1

: having a fixed look of hostility, fierceness, or anger

2

a

: shining with or reflecting an uncomfortably bright light

b(1)

: garish

(2)

: vulgarly ostentatious

3

: obtrusively and often painfully obvious

a glaring error

glaringly

ˈgler-iŋ-lē 

adverb

glaringness noun

Synonyms

• blatant
• conspicuous
• egregious
• flagrant
• gross
• obvious
• patent
• pronounced
• rank
• striking

Choose the Right Synonym for glaring

flagrant, glaring, gross, rank mean conspicuously bad or objectionable.

flagrant applies usually to offenses or errors so bad that they can neither escape notice nor be condoned.

flagrant abuse of the office of president

glaring implies painful or damaging obtrusiveness of something that is conspicuously wrong, faulty, or improper.

glaring errors

gross implies the exceeding of reasonable or excusable limits.

gross carelessness

rank applies to what is openly and extremely objectionable and utterly condemned.

rank heresy

Examples of glaring in a Sentence

a glaring example of racism

no one missed the glaring spelling error in the title

Recent Examples on the Web

Left tackle is the Patriots’ most glaring area of weakness, and adding a player like Stanley would free up their options in the draft. —Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 4 Feb. 2025

With five wins in the evening, the song is undoubtedly the most successful diss track in recent memory, making Drake’s absence at the show all the more glaring (and arguably understandable). —Evan Nicole Brown, TIME, 3 Feb. 2025

The Gophers turned the ball over on the first possession, and their passivity and indecisiveness were most glaring with three shot-clock violations in the first half. —Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 Jan. 2025

Throughout these horrific days — when the sun is a glaring red eye in the sky, and one evacuation alert after another floods my phone — the kindness of others has kept me afloat. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see glare entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

glaring

adjective

glar·​ing

ˈgla(ə)r-iŋ,

ˈgle(ə)r-

: painfully obvious

a glaring mistake

glaringly adverb

glaringness noun