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Sharpen Up With the History of Stolid
Stolid derives from stolidus, a word that means "dull" or "stupid" in Latin. It is also distantly related to the word stultify, meaning "to cause to appear or be stupid, foolish, or absurdly illogical." The earliest examples of usage for stolid, dating back to the early 17th century, indicate that it too was originally associated with a lack of smarts; it was used to describe people who were considered dull or stupid because they didn't wear their emotions on their sleeves. By the 1800s, however, stolid was frequently appearing without the connotation of foolishness, and it continues to be free of such overtones today.
Synonyms of stolid
Examples of stolid in a Sentence
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 May 2026
At the end of the eighteenth century, the West’s power brokers, eager to exude stolid republican virtue, abjured decoration and ornament, sparking what the British psychologist John Flügel called the Great Masculine Renunciation.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Kinlaw remained stolid throughout most of the public comment period and did not address calls for his resignation.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2026
At the outset, Martin (William Giammona) is as stolid as a piece of furniture, standing stock still at center stage, the black rectangle through which the other actors enter and exit like a deep void behind him.
—Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stolid
Cite this Entry
“Stolid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stolid. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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stolid
adjective
