askance
With wary eyes
Askance means with a sideways glance, typically conveying suspicion, disapproval, or distrust: She looked askance at his explanation.
The word appears almost exclusively in the phrase look askance at, suggesting skeptical or wary regard rather than direct confrontation.
You might look askance at a dubious business proposal or an unexpected visitor.
Angled, not straightforward
- sidelongDirected to one side
- aslantAt an angle
- slantedAngled from vertical
- angledTurned from perpendicular
indirect · lateral · canted · awry · tilted · edgewise · crabwise · athwart
Guardedly alert
- leeryCautiously distrustful
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
- guardedWary and restrained
watchful · dubious · skeptical · questioning · doubtful · unconvinced · disbelieving · incredulous
Lack of approval
- dislikeMild negative regard
- displeasureMild anger or disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- reproveCensure for wrongdoing
censorious · discountenance · frown · scowl · snub · brush-off · disdain · contempt
Inspecting with care
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- appraisingEstimating value or quality
- assessingEvaluating worth or significance
- evaluatingJudging quality or worth
searching · penetrating · piercing · studying · analyzing · questioning · quizzical · inquisitive
oblique
Angled, not straightforward
angled · indirect · lateral · canted · awry · tilted · edgewise · crabwise · athwart · slantwise
wary
Guardedly alert
- leeryCautiously distrustful
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
guarded · watchful · dubious · skeptical · questioning · doubtful · unconvinced · disbelieving · incredulous · jaundiced
disfavor
Lack of approval
- dislikeMild negative regard
- displeasureMild anger or disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
reprove · censorious · discountenance · frown · scowl · snub · brush-off · disdain · contempt · scorn
examining
Inspecting with care
- probingThoroughly investigating something
- appraisingEstimating value or quality
- assessingEvaluating worth or significance
evaluating · searching · penetrating · piercing · studying · analyzing · questioning · quizzical · inquisitive · inquiring
askancedirectly
Without intermediary steps
head-on · direct · squarely · face-to-face · openly
askanceapprovingly
With positive regard
favorably · trustingly · admiringly · trustfully · unquestioningly