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Glite Dictionary
white-lipped

white-lipped

1 8.1
Having pale lips because of fear or shock
  • adjective
  • /ˈwaɪtˌlɪpt/
: de labios pálidos
  • He approached the haunted house, white-lipped and uneasy about what he might find inside.

Examples

  • The terrified child stood there, white-lipped and trembling after hearing the loud thunder.

  • The orderly is racing at her, white-lipped with rage.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "And he stepped up to the bat, leaving a white-lipped Vic Junior in the dugout behind him.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • After receiving the shocking news, Sarah felt her heart race and became white-lipped with fear.

Synonyms

pale-faced
vswhite-lipped
10 4.9

A person with a very pale face because of illness or fear

focuses on one small facial area being pale rather than the entire face from fear

Antonyms

calm
680 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

composed
20 4.3

Calm and in control of your feelings during stress

How Pale

white-lipped
1 8.1
pale-faced
10 4.9

Surface Forms

white-lipped positive

Morphology

white-lipped = white + lip (transparent) = white + lip + ed

Formed from 'white' + 'lipped' (lip + -ed); the meaning 'having white/pale lips' is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

White-lipped is made of the simple parts white and lip, and it paints a clear picture of someone's lips turning 'white' from fear or shock. So, to be white-lipped means to have pale or white lips because you are very frightened or shocked.