gape

This word carries a strong visual of shock, awe, or sheer disbelief. It is far more passive and involuntary than staring; it implies a loss of composure where the physical reaction of the jaw dropping precedes any conscious thought. It often suggests a sense of vulnerability or foolishness in the person gaping. When used to describe a physical opening, the word evokes a sense of emptiness or a jarring breach. It describes a hole that is not just open, but aggressively wide, often conveying a feeling of horror or starkness, such as a gaping maw or a gaping void.