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bug-eyed

American

[buhg-ahyd] / ˈbʌgˌaɪd /

adjective

with bulging eyes, as from fright, surprise, or wonderment; wide-eyed.

Etymology

Origin of bug-eyed

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; bug ¹ + eyed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 1951 there arrived in Cambridge, as Mr. Cobb describes him, “a tall, thin, bug-eyed American called Jim Watson,” who began collaborating with Crick on the problem.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

But his unwillingness to be a bug-eyed lunatic has hurt his fundraising numbers.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2023

But Durkee casts doubt, wondering why those closest to Shakespeare would select this cartoonish picture — “the bug-eyed bloke with the pecan head” — for such a worthy tribute.

From Washington Post • Apr. 25, 2023

The other scowls, bug-eyed and open-jawed, as if caught in mid-shout.

From New York Times • Jan. 19, 2023

And Weary, bug-eyed with terror, was being disarmed.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023