Gaping and Shut

Opposite meaning words

Gaping adjective - With the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe.

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Shut is an antonym for gaping in wide open topic.

Nearby Words: gap, gape, gaped, gaper

Shut adjective - Used especially of mouth or eyes.

Usage example: his eyes were shut against the sunlight

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Gaping is an antonym for shut.

Nearby Words: shutdown, shutting

Normally, there would have been a kill switch in easy reach of the operator who could have shut the ride down for going too fast instead of simply gaping as he's shown to do.

Source: Film / Problem Child
The triangular blade alone caused a rather nasty gaping wound that was difficult to stitch shut.

Source: Bifurcated Weapon
Their bottom lips are stretched down and fused to their chest, turning their mouths into gaping maws that never shut.

Source: Body Horror / Video Games

Cite this Source

Shut and Gaping. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 18, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/gaping/shut

Gaping & Shut. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/gaping/shut>.

Shut or Gaping. 2016. Accessed August 18, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/gaping/shut.

Google Ngram Viewer shows how "gaping" and "shut" have occurred on timeline