open-mouthed

[oh-puhn-mouthd, -moutht]

adjective

1. having the mouth open.

2. gaping, as with surprise or astonishment.

   Synonyms: thunderstruck, confounded

3. greedy, ravenous, or rapacious.

4. clamoring at the sight of game or prey, as hounds.

5. vociferous or clamorous.

6. having a wide mouth, as a pitcher or jar.

open-mouthed

adjective

1. having an open mouth, esp in surprise

2. greedy or ravenous

3. clamorous or vociferous

Other Word Forms

• open-mouthedly adverb
• open-mouthedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of open-mouthed¹

First recorded in 1525–35

Example Sentences

I said earlier that Trump had a love-hate relationship with Europe, and I meant it: He’s a lot closer to the befuddled accidental-tourist character in plaid shorts and flip-up sunglasses, gazing open-mouthed at the Changing of the Guard or wondering why there aren’t tours of the Bastille, than the smooth assassin out of a jewelry commercial.

From Salon

At last month's Munich Security Conference I watched as delegates sat open-mouthed listening to US Vice-President JD Vance's blistering attack on Europe's policies on migration and free speech.

From BBC

Both of them have an ability to produce 'wow' performances in qualifying - laps that leave people open-mouthed, thinking, 'where did that come from?'

From BBC

Many watching on from the barriers were left open-mouthed at the scale of the welcome.

From BBC

Piles of dead bodies are strewn in all corners; emaciated faces forever twisted in open-mouthed screams.

From BBC

Related Words

• amazed 
• bemused 
• breathless 
• captivated www.thesaurus.com
• enthralled 
• rapt