rubberneck 1 of 2

noun

ˈrə-bər-ˌnek How to pronounce rubberneck (audio)
Definition of rubbernecknext
as in tourist
a person who travels for pleasure every year raucous rubbernecks by the busload descend upon the city for its famed Mardi Gras

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rubberneck

2 of 2

verb

as in to gawk
to look long and hard in wonder or surprise thoughtless drivers pausing on the highway to rubberneck at the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rubberneck
Noun
Yet the car will likely obey speed limits, never get drowsy or drunk and never rubberneck or give in to road rage. — Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 June 2025 Flimflam felt better in the mouth than swindle, and rubberneck was a more agreeable verb than crane. — Ralph Keyes, Time, 1 Apr. 2021
Verb
So there’s no reason to rubberneck Tagovailoa’s career, praising his success, or celebrating his failures. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026 Time to put fingers over your eyes, otherwise this is just rubbernecking. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rubberneck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubberneck
  1. tourist
  2. gawk
  3. traveler
  4. stare
  5. gaze
Noun
  • Perched high in the cliffs, built into the rock face overlooking the sea, and within view of the sweet fishing village of Conca dei Marini, the property is just a quick drive to Amalfi, but still feels a million miles away from the tourists.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • According to prosecutors, Cox entered the United States from Jamaica as a tourist in 1999 and remained after her visa expired the following year.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tourist
Verb
  • Closer still to the falls, the mist is heavy enough to drench the sightseers stopping to gawk at the spectacle from viewing points, or on slippery pathways between the various lookouts.
    — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Such an approach runs the risk of gawking at an unfamiliar people, their hegemonies and their ways of life, even with the best intentions.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of gawk
Noun
  • That’s all needed to engage — and convert — younger consumers, who are the burgeoning demographic expected to account for about 50 percent to 60 percent of travelers by 2035.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The rooms There's a room type for just about every type of traveler, with six floor plans.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of traveler
Verb
  • With the Seminoles staring at the end zone from the 4-yard line, Daniels faked the pitch left, kept the football and charged straight up the middle, steamrolling through Virginia safety Christian Ellis before crashing into the end zone.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The stranger stared at him in mute disappointment, then turned and went out.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stare
Verb
  • Make sure to get a room with a balcony for private hipster-gazing with a cocktail.
    — Riza Cruz, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • There aren’t many places in London where a king once climbed upstairs to gaze at the stars.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of gaze

Browse Nearby Words

rubberlike
rubberneck
rubbernecked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rubberneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rubberneck. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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