Words used to describe facial expressions

absent ADJECTIVE
showing that you are not paying attention to what is happening because you are thin king about somethingelse

appealing ADJECTIVE
an appealing look, voice etc shows that you want help, approval, or agreement

beatific ADJECTIVE
a beatific expression on your face is extremely happy and peaceful

black ADJECTIVE
showing angry or unhappy feelings

bleak ADJECTIVE
used about someones expression

brooding ADJECTIVE
looking as if you are thinking and worrying about something

bug-eyed ADJECTIVE
very excited or interested, so that your eyes are wide open

curious ADJECTIVE
used about someones expression

dark ADJECTIVE
a dark look or remark is angry and threatening

darkly ADVERB
in an angry and threatening way

deadpan ADJECTIVE
pretending to be serious when you are really joking

doleful ADJECTIVE
looking sad

downcast ADJECTIVE
downcast eyes are looking downwards, especially because you are sad, embarrassed, or shy

dreamy ADJECTIVE
a dreamy look, expression etc shows that you are thinking about something pleasant rather than payingattention

etched ADJECTIVE
if a feeling is etched on someones face, their expression shows clearly what they are feeling

expressionless ADJECTIVE
not allowing your feelings to show in your face, eyes, or voice

faint ADJECTIVE
used about the expression on someones face

fixed ADJECTIVE
a fixed expression on someones face does not change or look natural

glazed ADJECTIVE
a glazed look or expression shows no interest or emotion

glowering ADJECTIVE
looking very angry

grave ADJECTIVE
looking very serious and worried

haunted ADJECTIVE
someone who has a haunted look looks frightened or worried

hunted ADJECTIVE
someone who has a hunted look seems very worried or frightened

meaningful mild ADJECTIVE

ADJECTIVE

expressing a clear feeling or thought without words

a mild feeling or expression is one that is not very strong or severe

mischievous ADJECTIVE
a mischievous look or expression shows that you enjoy having fun by causing trouble

mobile ADJECTIVE
moving a lot and showing changes in what you are feeling

Mona Lisa ADJECTIVE

used for describing a mysterious smile or expression on a womans face

pained ADJECTIVE
showing that you feel very upset or unhappy

pitying
ADJECTIVE

a pitying expression shows that you feel pity for someone, but sometimes also that s hows you do not thinkthey deserve respect

pleading
ADJECTIVE

a pleading look shows that you want something very much

pleadingly
ADVERB

if you say something pleadingly, or if you look at someone pleadingly, your voice or e xpression shows thatyou want something very much

quizzical
ADJECTIVE

showing that you are confused or surprised by something, and perhaps that you thin k it is rather strangeand funny

radiant
ADJECTIVE

someone who is radiant looks extremely happy

roguish
ADJECTIVE

a roguish expression suggests that someone is likely to do something that is wrong b ut not harmful

sardonic
ADJECTIVE

a sardonic smile, expression, or comment shows a lack of respect for what someone else has said ordone

set
ADJECTIVE

a set smile or expression does not change, and often hides what someone is really thi nking

shamefaced
ADJECTIVE

with an expression that shows you feel ashamed about something

slack-jawed
ADJECTIVE

with your mouth open

sly
ADJECTIVE

a sly smile, look, or remark shows that the person doing it knows something that oth er people do not know

smiley
ADJECTIVE

smiling, or tending to smile often

straight-faced
ADJECTIVE

not showing that you want to laugh

sullen
ADJECTIVE

showing that you are in an unhappy mood, and do not want to talk

sullen
ADJECTIVE

used about someones expression or attitude

taut
ADJECTIVE

used about something such as a voice or expression that shows someone is nervous or angry

thoughtful
ADJECTIVE

used about someones face or expression

tight-lipped
ADJECTIVE

someone who is tightlipped has their lips pressed tightly together because they are annoyed aboutsometh ing or they do not approve of it

unblinking
ADJECTIVE

looking straight at someone or something without closing your eyes at all

unreadable
ADJECTIVE

if someones face, eyes, or expression are unreadable, you cannot guess what they ar e thinking

vacant
ADJECTIVE

looking as if you do not understand or are not paying attention

wan
ADJECTIVE

used about someone who looks very sad

wanly
ADVERB

with a tired sad expression on your face

wide-eyed
ADJECTIVE

with an expression that shows that you are very surprised, frightened, or impressed

wild-eyed
ADJECTIVE

someone who is wild-eyed looks very angry or frightened

withering
ADJECTIVE

a withering look, expression, or remark deliberately makes you feel silly or embarrass ed

wolfish
ADJECTIVE

looking as though you want to hurt or trick someone

worried
ADJECTIVE

used about the expression on peoples faces

wry
ADJECTIVE

showing that you think something is funny but not very pleasant, often by the expres sion on your face

beatifically
ADVERB

deadpan
ADVERB

dolefully
ADVERB

expressionlessly
ADVERB

mischievously
ADVERB

pityingly
ADVERB

pouty
ADJECTIVE

quizzically
ADVERB

radiantly
ADVERB

sardonically
ADVERB

scowling
ADJECTIVE

shamefacedly sullenly
ADVERB

ADVERB

sullenness

NOUN

unblinkingly vacantly

ADVERB

ADVERB

witheringly wolfishly wryly

ADVERB

ADVERB

ADVERB

on someones face
used for saying that someones face has a particular expression

straight face
if someone has a straight face, they look serious even though they are saying someth ing funny or are in afunny situation