stony

stony

adjective \ˈstō-nē\

ston·i·erston·i·est

Definition of STONY

1

: abounding in or having the nature of stone : rocky

2

a : insensitive to pity or human feeling : obdurate

b : manifesting no movement or reaction : dumb, expressionless

c : fearfully gripping : petrifying

3

archaic : consisting of or made of stones

4

British : stone broke

— ston·i·ly \ˈstō-nə-lē\ adverb

— ston·i·ness \ˈstō-nē-nəs\ noun

Variants of STONY

stony also ston·ey \ˈstō-nē\

Examples of STONY

1. She gave him a stony stare.
2. <the judge's stony demeanor didn't raise the defendant's hopes for a more lenient sentence>

First Known Use of STONY

before 12th century

Related to STONY

Synonyms

affectless, callous, case-hardened, cold-blooded, compassionless, desensitized, hard-boiled, hard-hearted, heartless, indurate, inhuman, inhumane, insensate, insensitive, ironhearted, merciless, obdurate, pachydermatous, pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, slash-and-burn, soulless, hard (also stoney), stonyhearted, take-no-prisoners, thick-skinned, uncharitable, unfeeling, unmerciful, unsparing, unsympathetic

Antonyms

charitable, compassionate, humane, kindhearted, kindly, merciful, sensitive, softhearted, sympathetic, tender, tenderhearted, warm, warmhearted

Related Words

boorish, heedless, inconsiderate, thoughtless, uncaring, unfriendly, unloving, unthinking; grim, hard-bitten, harsh, heavy-handed, ironfisted, ironhanded, jackbooted, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), oppressive, rough, rough-and-tumble, severe, sledgehammer, stern, tough, ungentle; abusive, acrimonious, disagreeable, hateful, ill-natured, ill-tempered, malevolent, malicious, mean, rancorous, spiteful, surly, virulent; barbarous, bestial, brutal, brutish, cruel, evil-minded, savage, vicious; austere, cold, frosty

Near Antonyms

benevolent, benignant, gentle, kind; clement, indulgent, lenient, mild; cordial, friendly, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious; tolerant, understanding; affectionate, fond, loving

Rhymes with STONY

bony, coney, crony, phony, pony, tony, Tony, yoni