1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
an affectless analysis of the cost of the war purely in pecuniary terms
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stoic
not feeling or showing emotion
the accused remained affectless throughout the long trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affectless
Avoiding romance and melodrama, deBoer writes in an affectless register that mirrors Alice’s dissociation.
—
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The clip is entirely affectless—an authentic moment of pure lyricism.
—John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2022
Actually, Stone’s voiceover isn’t affectless.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022
The use of an A.I. program to replicate Warhol’s flat, affectless speech to read the diary entries had a strangely fitting logic.
—Steve Dollar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for affectless
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
The clip is entirely affectless—an authentic moment of pure lyricism.
—John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2022
Actually, Stone’s voiceover isn’t affectless.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2022
The use of an A.I. program to replicate Warhol’s flat, affectless speech to read the diary entries had a strangely fitting logic.
—Steve Dollar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for affectless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectless
Adjective
-
Serenity Maggie’s (and Sweet Magnolias‘) trip to New York was cut short as Season 5 offered a juxtaposition between small-town values and ruthless big-city corporate culture.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
Ruffalo will voice Nero, a scrappy black cat, and Fishburne will play Rocco, a ruthless cat mob boss.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
His determination and stoic unflappability were always the difference.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
15 June 2026
-
Brunson, stoic throughout the entire championship run, broke down in tears as his father Rick, who’s a Knicks assistant coach, celebrated on the sidelines.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
The jokes on social media will be endless, and opposing fans will be merciless.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 May 2026
-
The show was merciless with its satirical barbs against top government officials and current events, just as its parent company Paramount Skydance has pushed to acquire Warner Bros Discovery.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
High Street began to slope upward, and the terrain became stonier around the sides of the road as Revere and his horse, Brown Beauty, ascended Rock Hill.—
Kostya Kennedy,
Time,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nilsson’s depiction of bodies past their prime conjures not the pitiless naturalism of Joan Semmel or Alice Neel, but something friskier, more delighted.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
But Lincoln was the Declaration’s most pitiless and most brilliant editor.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affectless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectless. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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