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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affectless
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
Skarsgård does well with the character’s daytime ambiguity (tight-faced, affectless) and nighttime plotting (observant, physically lithe).
—Vulture, 27 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for affectless
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
Skarsgård does well with the character’s daytime ambiguity (tight-faced, affectless) and nighttime plotting (observant, physically lithe).
—Vulture, 27 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for affectless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectless
Adjective
-
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Assayas offers anecdotes, a feuilleton of tyranny in which the foibles of the mighty and the ruthless reveal the sentimental side of cruelty, the amusement value of ugly deeds, and the polite side of monstrous ideas.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
In winter, the solid, stoic presence of an oak makes an inspiring silhouette against the sky.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
-
The organization’s president, though, was stoic afterward.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Ron White, Joe DeRosa, and Tony’s number one favorite comic, Tony Hinchcliffe (played by Adam Ray), showed the crowd exactly what effortless and absolutely merciless veteran comedy looks like.—
Malina Saval,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Development in the Dotte 🪠 Fish or human feces often wash up in KCK homes during those merciless spring rains.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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These conditions often yield mezcals with a savory backbone and a dry, stony finish.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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In a vast stony tract of desert a three-hour drive south of Cairo, tucked between jagged black mountains and the glittering Gulf of Suez, a group of Chinese engineers is quietly rewiring Egypt’s energy strategy.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But Lincoln was the Declaration’s most pitiless and most brilliant editor.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The scene offers a pitiless view of the sexism, and materialism, of the culture in which the girls were being raised.—
Mark Oppenheimer,
Vulture,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affectless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectless. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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