deadpan

¹dead·pan

adj \ˈded-ˌpan\

Definition of DEADPAN

: marked by an impassive matter-of-fact manner, style, or expression <a deadpan comedy>

— deadpan adverb

Examples of DEADPAN

1. <he delivered the joke in such a deadpan voice that we thought at first that he was serious>

First Known Use of DEADPAN

circa 1928

Related to DEADPAN

Synonyms: catatonic, blank, empty, expressionless, impassive, inexpressive, numb, stolid, vacant

Antonyms: demonstrative, expressive

Related Words: dull, vacuous, vague, vapid; enigmatic (also enigmatical), impenetrable, inscrutable, mysterious; motionless, static, still, wooden; reserved, restrained, reticent, taciturn; aloof, apathetic, cold, cool, detached, indifferent, phlegmatic, unresponsive

Near Antonyms: engaged, interested, responsive; active, alive, animated, bright, busy, dynamic, effervescent, energetic, expansive, exuberant, lively, vivacious; eloquent, revealing, revelatory; gestic, gesticulant, gesticulative, gesticulatory, gestural; emotional, melodramatic, theatrical (also theatric), unreserved, unrestrained

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Rhymes with DEADPAN

adman, Afghan, aidman, ape-man, Bataan, bedpan, best man, Bhutan, birdman, boardman, boss man, brainpan, brogan, caftan, caiman, cancan, capstan, captan, caveman, chessman, claypan, clubman, Cohan, cooncan, corban, cowman, Cruzan, C-Span, cyan, deadman, deskman, dishpan, divan, doorman, dustpan, fan-tan, Fezzan, fibranne, flight plan, flyman, FORTRAN, freedman, freeman, frogman, gagman, game plan, glucan, G-man, Greenspan, hardpan, headman, he-man, iceman, inspan, Iran, japan, Japan, jazzman, Kazan, kneepan, Koran, Kurgan, leadman, liege man, life span, liftman, loran, madman, main man, Malan, Mandan, man's man, mailman, merman, Milan, milkman, newsman, oilcan, oilman, oil pan, old man, one-man, pavane, pecan, plowman, point man, postman, Poznan, preman, pressman, propman, Queen Anne, ragman, rattan, reedman, reman, rodman, routeman, Saipan, salt pan, sampan, sandman, saucepan, schoolman, sea fan, sedan, sideman, snowman, soundman, soutane, spaceman, Spokane, spray can, stewpan, stickman, stockman, straight man, straw man, strongman, stuntman, Sudan, suntan, T-man, TACAN, taipan, test ban, tin can, tisane, toucan, trainman, trashman, trepan, triptan, Tristan, tube pan, unman, vegan, Walkman, weight man, wingspan, wise man, yardman, yes-man