leering

American  

[leer-ing] / ˈlɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. indicating lewd, sly, or malicious intent.

   He regarded her with a leering grin as she walked slowly up the path.

2. having a lewd, sly, or malicious look.

   The massive door, with a leering gargoyle for a knocker, lent the scene an air of unreality.

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Other Word Forms

• leeringly adverb

Etymology

Origin of leering

leer ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Her mouth hung open in a leering smile, and her teeth were large and razor sharp, with a prominent set of gleaming white incisors.

From Literature

The final shot is one of the most foreboding in Hollywood history, with Nazis in uniform reflected in the cabaret’s distorted mirror, leering from the VIP seats at the front of the stage.

From Salon

But when she played the early solo cut “Money” too, a leering rap banger, she showed she’s always had this in her.

From Los Angeles Times

There are T-shirts, phones, watches, furniture, clocks, slippers, tents, wallets, trading cards, eye shadow and roller skates with Garfield’s leering image.

From New York Times

To add insult to injury, she describes John Eastman, another coup plotter, as flashing a "leering grin" while Giuliani manhandled her.

From Salon