impassive

1 of 2

adjective

im·​pas·​sive (ˌ)im-ˈpa-siv 

1

: giving no sign of feeling or emotion : expressionless

an impassive expression

2

a

: unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion : apathetic

b

: unsusceptible to physical feeling : insensible

c

archaic : unsusceptible to pain

impassively adverb

impassiveness noun

impassivity

ˌim-ˌpa-ˈsi-və-tē 

noun

impassivity

2 of 2

noun

im·​passivity ¦im+ 

: the quality or state of being impassive : a lack or absence of feeling or expression

behind her impassivity lay passionate growing anxiety

—Marcia Davenport

his majestic impassivity contrasting with the overt astonishment with which a row of savagely ugly attendant chiefs grinned

—G. B. Shaw

Synonyms of impassive

Adjective

• stoic

Choose the Right Synonym for impassive

impassive, stoic, phlegmatic, apathetic, stolid mean unresponsive to something that might normally excite interest or emotion.

impassive stresses the absence of any external sign of emotion in action or facial expression.

met the news with an impassive look

stoic implies an apparent indifference to pleasure or especially to pain often as a matter of principle or self-discipline.

was resolutely stoic even in adversity

phlegmatic implies a temperament or constitution hard to arouse.

a phlegmatic man unmoved by tears

apathetic may imply a puzzling or deplorable indifference or inertness.

charitable appeals met an apathetic response

stolid implies a habitual absence of interest, responsiveness, or curiosity.

stolid workers wedded to routine

Examples of impassive in a Sentence

Adjective

Her face remained impassive throughout the trial.

she remained impassive as the officers informed her of her son's death

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Unlike the coolly impassive Pop artists, the Who weren’t afraid to get personal, or to let their art echo the anxious, kinky, maladjusted yammering in their own heads. —Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Her face remained impassive even as tears formed and began to travel down her cheek. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026

Bakri’s face is impassive and exhausted during this casual debasement, his voice low, and his tone deadpan, as though Salim has been forced to do all this a million times before. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026

Dressed in a blue sweatshirt and surrounded by court officers, Henderson remained impassive. —Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Rhymes for impassive

• massive
• passive

Kids Definition

impassive

adjective

im·​pas·​sive (ˈ)im-ˈpas-iv 

: not feeling or not showing emotion

impassively adverb

impassivity

ˌim-ˌpas-ˈiv-ət-ē 

noun