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.
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
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But the drama can be very stolid, borderline dull at times.—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025 Michelle DeYoung was a somewhat stolid Herodias, Piotr Buszewski a fiercely ardent Narraboth.—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 Accepting a lavish gift from the Persian Gulf nation makes even some stolid Trump allies queasy because of Qatar’s record of abuses against its Shiite Muslim minority and its funding of Hamas, the militant group whose attack on Israel touched off a prolonged war in the region.—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 Left wing-progressives, once skeptical of the status quo, have become stolid guardians of institutions, while right-wing conservatives – once champions of prudence – are tearing down fences.—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stolid
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