stolid

adjective

stol·​id ˈstä-ləd 

: having or expressing little or no sensibility : unemotional

stolidity

stä-ˈli-də-tē 

stə-

noun

stolidly

ˈstä-ləd-lē 

adverb

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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

• blank
• impassive
• expressionless
• motionless
• enigmatic
• vacant

Choose the Right Synonym for stolid

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 stolid in a Sentence

She remained stolid during the trial.

the butler responded to the duchess's constant demands with stolid indifference

Recent Examples on the Web

Many Labour members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do. — ABC News, 23 June 2026

Many Labor members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026

But the picture also feels stolid and one note. — 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

Word History

Etymology

Latin stolidus dull, stupid

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stolid

• solid
• squalid
• semisolid

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Kids Definition

stolid

adjective

stol·​id ˈstäl-əd 

: having or expressing little or no feeling : not easily stirred or excited

a stolid person

stolidly adverb