penetrating stare
Intense, searching look
A penetrating stare is a direct, intense gaze that seems to see through pretense or surface appearances.
The look suggests the person is reading your thoughts or seeing something you'd rather keep hidden: She fixed him with a penetrating stare until he confessed.
The phrase implies uncomfortable scrutiny—being examined rather than simply observed.
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- intenseExtreme in degree
- gazeFixed, intent look
- eyesOrgans of sight
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
unwavering · fixed · steely · cold · mean mug · scrutinizing · under the microscope · watchful · drilling · boring · laser · eagle eye · icy · unblinking · hawk · predator · intimidating · searching
penetrate, penetration, penetrative, penetrator, impenetrable, penetrable, penetrating, stare, stares