impassive

adjective

im·​pas·​sive (ˌ)im-ˈpa-siv How to pronounce impassive (audio)
1
: giving no sign of feeling or emotion : expressionless
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 noun
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

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 What remains is Menzies’s Lucas, a man in the eye of a maelstrom, initially mired in impassive incomprehension until a particularly brutal act shocks him into fury. Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Marseille also went out on penalties, falling to 2019 tournament winner Rennes 9-8 in a tense shootout where both goalkeepers goaded the penalty takers in front of an impassive referee. Jerome Pugmire, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2024 This becomes more evident in later chapters, in which impassive reconstruction slips into impassioned defense. Krithika Varagur, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2024 In two drawings here of his grandfather, Salomon wears the impassive expression of an identity photograph. Jason Farago, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023 Still, this fruitful partnership makes for an unusual duo in person: Where Lanthimos is impassive and a man of few words, his leading lady is wide-eyed, warm and eager to connect. Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023 His voice is so popular that there is a piece of software that purports to convert your own speech into Mr. Herzog’s baritone, complete with his sibilant Bavarian consonants and deliberately impassive delivery. Farran Smith Nehme, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2023 And being the preseason favorite in the Mountain West and ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press preseason poll was met with impassive shrugs. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 Netanyahu sat there, mute and impassive, uncharacteristically careless about the optics. Ruth Margalit, New York Times, 27 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impassive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Time Traveler
The first known use of impassive was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near impassive

Cite this Entry

“Impassive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impassive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impassive

adjective
im·​pas·​sive (ˈ)im-ˈpas-iv How to pronounce impassive (audio)
: not feeling or not showing emotion
impassively adverb
impassivity noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impassive

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