stared down
Won eye contact
To stare down is to intimidate or defeat someone by holding eye contact until they look away: She stared down the heckler until he fell silent.
The phrase implies a contest of wills where breaking eye contact signals submission.
It can extend beyond literal staring to mean facing something threatening without backing down: He stared down his fears.
- glaredStared with anger
- steely gazeIntense, unwavering look
- gazedLooked steadily at
- challengedDisputed or questioned
- withstoodSuccessfully opposed or survived
intimidated · overcame · glowered · confronted · resisted · braved · observed · peered · scrutinized · locked eyes · outfaced · asserted · defied · eyeballed · persevered · iron will · resolved · overpowered
stared downlooked away
blinked first · glanced away · flinched · cowered · looked down
stared downbacked down
Retreated from a position
capitulated · yielded · submitted · caved · lost nerve
stare, stared, staring, stares, starer, down, downed, downing, downs