glower

[glou-er]

verb (used without object)

1. to look or stare with sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.

noun

1. a look of sullen dislike, discontent, or anger.

glower

/ ˈɡlaʊə /

verb

1. (intr) to stare hard and angrily

noun

1. a sullen or angry stare

Other Word Forms

• gloweringly adverb
• unglowering adjective
• ungloweringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of glower¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ( Scots ) glowren “to glower”; akin to Middle Low German glūren “to be overcast,” Middle Dutch gloeren “to leer”

Word History and Origins

Origin of glower¹

C16: probably of Scandinavian origin; related to Middle Low German glūren to watch

Synonym Study

See glare ¹.

Example Sentences

Even with one eye, she still managed to glower with displeasure.

Read more on Literature

KFC is taking shots at rivals in its marketing, and in restaurants it is making light of the situation, putting up signs featuring a glowering Colonel Sanders.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Do the white male boys’ clubs still reign, as represented by the statue of Yale founder Abraham Pierson glowering down at the students?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Anger and aggrievement are the twin engines that power the president’s glowering soul.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The viewer is left to assume this imaginary person is still out there, glowering with hate and, more importantly, being punished for their unbelief with outward ugliness.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• scowl