leering

7.7

Looking at someone in a rude, sexual way that makes them feel uncomfortable

adjective
/ˈlɪrɪŋ/

NSFW

: lascivo

The man's leering gaze made her feel very uncomfortable during the meeting.

Examples

She avoided eye contact with him because of his leering smile.
His leering behavior at the party was inappropriate and made others uneasy.
Or they need to stop leering over other women or men on social media.
And he's just always standing behind him leering and Megs, right?

Synonyms

to leer

vsleering

NSFW

20 7.4

To look at someone in a rude way that makes them feel uncomfortable

has identical meaning and is used the same way

to ogle

vsleering

Offensive

7 7.9

To look at someone in a strong, often sexual way that may make them feel uncomfortable

adds a sly unpleasant tone that makes others feel uncomfortable

to perve

vsleering

Offensive

1 9.9

To look at someone in a sexual way that makes them feel uncomfortable

is more neutral in tone and broadly used rather than slang

teasing

vsleering

Offensive

1 7.0

Acting to show sexual interest without wanting to continue

focuses on an unpleasant suggestive look not broader playful sexual behaviour

to undress with one's eyes

vsleering

NSFW

9.7

To look at someone in a way that shows sexual interest as if they have no clothes

is more about a sly unpleasant stare rather than imagined undressing

to give the glad eye

vsleering

NSFW

9.9

Look at someone to show romantic or sexual interest

is more sly and unpleasant rather than playful attraction

Antonyms

to gaze

170 2.6

To look steadily with admiration, surprise, or deep thought

to give the eye

7.7

To look at someone with interest to judge or admire them

How Suggestive

to ogle

Offensive

7 7.9

leering

NSFW

7.7

staring

1.8

to gaze

170 2.6

to glance

299 1.5

Surface Forms

leering positive

Morphology

leering = leer (transparent) = leer + ing

Formed by the verb 'leer' plus the participial/adjectival suffix '-ing', preserving the verb's meaning as 'looking in an unpleasant or sexually suggestive way.'

Etymology

Leering comes from the verb leer, which once described giving a sly, 'sideways' look from the corner of the eye. So a leering look is a quiet, unpleasant stare that makes someone feel uncomfortable, and it is the same root as leery.