RUBBERNECKING Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

rubbernecking 1 of 2

noun

as in eavesdropping

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Dissimilar Words

rubbernecking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rubberneck

as in gawking

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 rubbernecking

Verb

As a result, traffic between Morton Grove and Skokie has slowed to a crawl, and on the inbound side there has also been a slowdown due to rubbernecking. — Kris Habermehl, CBS News, 4 May 2026 Instead, Malinin popped his quad axel, the beginning of four minutes that started to feel like rubbernecking a car accident. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026 The whole of football is rubbernecking in their direction. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rubbernecking

Noun

OpenAI’s forthcoming device, rumored to be a portable smart speaker, could encounter similar eavesdropping concerns.

— Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
It was mostly shot at night on rooftops in Tel Aviv to avoid Israeli eavesdropping and protect its subjects.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of eavesdropping

Verb

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
On most days the Jewel House in the Tower of London is packed with tourists gawking at the fabled British Crown Jewels.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of gawking

Noun

Seeman was banned two games for swearing at Trey McBride after Arizona's star tight end argued for a pass interference call when he was hit by a defender before the ball arrived.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Last week, Rams coach Sean McVay said the NFL privately acknowledged that officials incorrectly called defensive pass interference against Los Angeles in the closing moments of its Week 3 loss to Denver, nullifying an interception.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of interference

Verb

Before a first-down play from the Cleveland 20-yard line, Rodgers could be seen staring at the Pittsburgh sideline with his arms spread out, apparently waiting to receive the play from McCarthy.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
More of the same people staring at the same problem in the same room.

— Duncan Wardle, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of staring

Verb

Despite gazing at the ghostly presence in full, Bela’s parents don’t seem all that spooked, even when the young girl is tossed around like a rag doll during an anniversary gathering at their home.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
The rooms Each of Jumeirah Al Naseem's 430 rooms comes with a generous balcony or terrace gazing over the resort grounds, or up at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of gazing

Noun

The same back and forth followed another line of questioning, this time if their respective companies would bear legal responsibility if a rogue model caused injury or death.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
As the second Cunningham rally raged outside the Moda Center, once again pitting women's sports advocates against pro-trans counter-protesters, WNBA coaches faced consequential questioning inside.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of questioning

Noun

The door’s handle had been broken off but the door did not have damage consistent with a break-in, such as prying or force marks, said Det.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
If the convict can help transport the loot from that camp to a safe space far from the government’s prying eyes, the warden will punch his get-outta-jail-free card.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of prying

Browse Nearby Words

rubberneckers

rubbernecking

rubbernecks

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Style

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

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Synonyms of rubbernecking

noun

verb

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