Describing a person whose eyes convey a sense of hopelessness, pessimism, or a lack of warmth and optimism. It often indicates a state of emotional exhaustion, disillusionment, or a worldview colored by hardship and difficulty. The gaze may appear vacant, devoid of joy, or filled with a weary acceptance of negativity. The term often suggests a certain stoicism, where feelings are suppressed or hidden beneath a surface of detachment. bleak-eyed individuals may appear to have witnessed or experienced significant suffering, either their own or that of others, which has left a permanent mark on their emotional outlook. This expression contrasts sharply with bright-eyed individuals.
Bleak-eyed meaning with examples
- After years of working in a war-torn country, the aid worker had a bleak-eyed gaze that spoke volumes about the suffering she'd witnessed. Her eyes, once filled with idealism, now reflected the harsh realities of poverty and violence, a constant reminder of the challenges and pain.
- The detective, weary from countless unsolved cases, surveyed the crime scene with bleak-eyed indifference. He had seen too much death and despair to be surprised by the latest tragedy; his gaze was haunted by the darkness he had witnessed.
- The old woman, having lost her family and home in the storm, sat on a bench, her bleak-eyed stare fixed on the horizon. The desolation mirrored her inner state and the loss of her beloved family after years of happiness.
- The prisoner, having spent decades in solitary confinement, emerged from his cell with a bleak-eyed expression. His eyes held a cold, hard glint, reflecting a profound sense of isolation and emotional damage, which will be extremely hard to heal.
- The child, enduring constant emotional abuse from home, arrived at school with a bleak-eyed expression. Her once-vibrant eyes now held a dullness that spoke of the abuse that she has been put through, that she has lost some of her vibrant personality.