eyeless
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈaɪləs/
US
- /ˈaɪləs/
Description
- Without eyes
- having no eyes
- sightless
- unable to see
"Eyeless" usually means literally having no eyes. It is most often used for animals, creatures, statues, masks, or figures in stories that are described as missing eyes or as never having had them at all. You might read about an eyeless cave fish, an eyeless skull, or an eyeless face in a dark scene.
The word can also be used in a figurative way, especially in literary writing. In that sense, it suggests moving through the world without clear sight, understanding, or guidance. Even then, the image still comes from the basic idea of having no eyes, so the literal meaning stays at the center.
"Eyeless" first of all means having no eyes. That may refer to a real living thing, such as a cave animal that evolved in darkness, or to an object or image, such as an eyeless doll, an eyeless statue, or an eyeless face in a poem or horror story. In plain use, the word points to the absence of the eyes themselves, not just poor vision.
Because the image is so strong, writers also use "eyeless" for effect. In stories and poems, it can suggest darkness, fear, helplessness, or a lack of direction. An eyeless creature may seem unnatural or mysterious. An eyeless face may feel empty or frightening. In these cases, the word does more than describe appearance; it also sets a mood.
Sometimes the word stretches into a figurative meaning. A person, group, or journey may be described in a way that suggests moving forward without insight or guidance. That use is less common than the literal one, and it is usually found in literary or dramatic writing rather than everyday speech. Overall, "eyeless" is mainly a vivid descriptive word for something that has no eyes, with figurative uses growing naturally from that central image.
Examples
- 1
Cave animals
Deep in the cave, pale eyeless fish drifted through the water.
- 2
Artistic effect
The artist carved an eyeless face to make the statue feel less human.
- 3
Symbolic figure
In the poem, the eyeless figure seems to represent fear rather than a real creature.
Meaning
the eyeless figure
a figure described without eyes, often for a symbolic effect
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- eyelessadjective