What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
leered
Example
The man leered at the woman as she walked by. [leered: verb]
Example
She felt uncomfortable under his leering gaze. [leering: gerund or present participle]
stare
Example
He stared at the painting for a long time, trying to understand its meaning. [stared: past tense]
Example
She gave him a stern stare when he misbehaved. [stare: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stare is more commonly used than leer in everyday language. Stare is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while leer is less common and has a negative connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between leered and stare?
While stare is typically associated with a neutral or formal tone, leer is informal and often considered inappropriate or offensive in formal settings.
