stony

adjective

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\ ˈstō-nē

variants: or less commonly stoney

stonier; stoniest

Definition of stony

1 : abounding in or having the nature of stone : rocky

2a : insensitive to pity or human feeling : obdurate

b : manifesting no movement or reaction : dumb, expressionless

c : fearfully gripping : petrifying

3 archaic : consisting of or made of stones

4 British : stone broke

Other Words from stony Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about stony

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Examples of stony in a Sentence

She gave him a stony stare. the judge's stony demeanor didn't raise the defendant's hopes for a more lenient sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Martha returns to work just three weeks later with no explanation, just cool, stony defiance. — Justin Chang Film Critic, Los Angeles Times, "Review: Vanessa Kirby gives a shattering performance in the Netflix drama ‘Pieces of a Woman’," 6 Jan. 2021 Additionally, Itokawa was a bright, stony object, with a very different history and scientific potential from dark, carbonaceous asteroids such as Bennu. — Dante S. Lauretta, Scientific American, "To Bennu and Back," 1 Aug. 2016 Located roughly 10 miles north of the town of Strawberry in Coconino National Forest, the stony peninsula juts out over the eastern edge of Fossil Springs Wilderness. — Mare Czinar, azcentral, "You'll see summer wildflowers on this Coconino National Forest hike. Here's how to do it," 29 May 2020 The senators watched, with stony faces, as Mr. Schiff spoke. — Lindsay Wise, WSJ, "Trump Impeachment Trial Begins as Senators Are Sworn In," 16 Jan. 2020 Outbreaks of stony coral tissue loss disease, first noticed off Miami in 2014, have spread as far as Cozumel, the Caribbean region, and have baffled marine biologists. — sun-sentinel.com, "Officials want $100M for reef restoration in Florida Keys," 11 Dec. 2019 Outbreaks of stony coral tissue loss disease, first noticed off Miami in 2014, have spread as far as Cozumel, the Caribbean region, and have baffled marine biologists. — USA TODAY, "Feral hog hunting, coral restoration, West Nile research: News from around our 50 states," 11 Dec. 2019 Now, Force Blue dive teams are working with other ocean conservation groups to stop the spread of an especially severe and deadly outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "US special forces veterans are deploying to save coral reefs," 8 June 2019 Disgraced San Francisco Public Works director Mohammed Nuru and restaurateur Nick Bovis stood stony faced alongside their respective attorneys Thursday during a brief court hearing about the status of their $2 million bonds. — Dominic Fracassa, SFChronicle.com, "SF corruption case: Nuru and Bovis appear in court as employment investigation takes a turn," 6 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stony.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.