stolid

adjective

stol·​id ˈstä-ləd How to pronounce stolid (audio)
: having or expressing little or no sensibility : unemotional
stolidity noun
stolidly 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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

Etymology

Latin stolidus dull, stupid

First Known Use

circa 1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stolid was circa 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Stolid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stolid. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

stolid

adjective
stol·​id ˈstäl-əd How to pronounce stolid (audio)
: having or expressing little or no feeling : not easily stirred or excited
a stolid person
stolidly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on stolid

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