outstaring
Winning the staredown
Outstaring is maintaining a stare longer than someone else, defeating them in a contest of gazes.
The word captures both the competitive element and the act of looking itself: She won by outstaring him until he looked away.
More broadly, to outstare something is to face it down without flinching: outstaring danger, outstaring death.
Direct clash between opponents
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
dominance · challenge · provocation · bravado · antagonism · hostility · tension · rivalry
Not closing one's eyes
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- penetratingPassing into or through
- steadyFixed, not fluctuating
- fixedRestored or immovable
unwavering · intense · glare · fixation · locked · watchful · steely · cold-eyed
Firmness of purpose
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
fortitude · grit · resilience · steadfastness · willpower · nerve · composure · self-control
face-off
Direct clash between opponents
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
intimidation · dominance · challenge · provocation · bravado · antagonism · hostility · tension · rivalry · adversary
unblinking
Not closing one's eyes
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- penetratingPassing into or through
- steadyFixed, not fluctuating
fixed · unwavering · intense · glare · fixation · locked · watchful · steely · cold-eyed · direct
determination
Firmness of purpose
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
endurance · fortitude · grit · resilience · steadfastness · willpower · nerve · composure · self-control · patience
outstaringlooking away
Directing eyes elsewhere
glancing away · blinking first · glancing · peeking · glimpsing
outstaringbacking down
Withdrawing from a stance
yielding · flinching · submitting · capitulating · cowering
stare, staring, stared, stares, starer, outstare, starers, outstared, outstares