What does glowering mean?
Glowering describes an angry or threatening appearance, usually one that is dark, tense, and intimidating. It can refer to a person's face, gaze, posture, or manner: a glowering stare can make a confrontation feel ominous. The word is also used metaphorically for skies, clouds, buildings, or landscapes that appear dark and foreboding, as in "a glowering sky." As a verb, glowering means to stare with an angry or menacing expression, though its most frequent modern use is as an adjective. The term is more vivid than simply saying someone is angry and often suggests a brooding or sustained hostility rather than a momentary irritation. It can also apply to an object or setting associated with menace. In both ordinary description and literary writing, glowering effectively combines emotional anger with a sense of darkness, weight, and impending confrontation.
Looking angry, sullen, or threatening; dark and ominous.
"The prisoner faced the guards with a glowering stare."
Used predicatively before a noun or after a linking verb; the metaphorical sense for skies and landscapes is common.
To stare with an angry or threatening expression.
"He glowered at her from across the table."
This is the present participle of glow in the sense of regarding someone with an angry look.
Unlike a fleeting glare, a glowering look lingers like a storm on the horizon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does glowering come from?
Glowering derives from glow, which comes from Old English glōwan, meaning to shine or shine brightly; related Germanic cognates include Dutch gloed and German glühen. Glowering originally conveyed the idea of shining or burning with light, but it developed a figurative sense of a fiery or threatening appearance before becoming especially associated with an angry, scowling look.
How glowering is actually used
Glowering commonly describes a person's face, eyes, posture, or manner, but it is also applied figuratively to landscapes and skies. It often has a more vivid, literary flavor than the neutral word "angry," and it conveys menace as well as displeasure.
Easily confused with glowering
A glare is a fierce or angry look, often directed at someone, whereas glowering more often describes a sustained expression or an ominous appearance.