Glaring means extremely obvious or impossible to ignore, usually in a bad way. A glaring error in a report stands out so clearly that anyone reading it would notice immediately. A glaring contradiction between two statements hits you right in the face because the conflict is so obvious.

The word captures that quality of being both bright and harsh, like when sunlight reflects off a windshield and you can't help but squint. When something is glaring, it practically forces you to pay attention to it. A teacher might point out the glaring gaps in a student's understanding, or a coach might notice the glaring weakness in the opposing team's defense.

You'll often find glaring paired with negative words: glaring mistakes, glaring omissions, glaring problems. That's because we tend to use it for flaws or issues that should have been caught but somehow weren't. When you leave a glaring hole in your argument during a debate, your opponent will spot it instantly.

The word can also describe a fierce, angry stare. If someone gives you a glaring look, they're staring at you with intense displeasure, their eyes practically shooting daggers at you.