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
-
His eyes gave him away as a ruthless competitor.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 May 2026
-
But then there's Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes), a ruthless country singer and the thorn in Don's side.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Rai put an exclamation point on his championship day with a birdie putt on 17 from nearly 70 feet, which only elicited a subtle fist pump from the stoic Englishman.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
-
During rare lapses, Gilgeous-Alexander has stayed stoic.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Having catalogued the Black Death’s horrifying effects, Ibn Khatima went on to outline a series of preventative measures and active treatments designed to combat this merciless scourge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
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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
Adjective
-
Instead of looking like a sleek urban loft, the room can quickly start to feel cold, stony, and impersonal.—
Natasha Bazika,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
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This was audacious in an area dotted with stony, colonial farmhouses and quaint villages of Federal and Italianate homes.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As with the others, the pitiless treatment only ends when they’re slaughtered.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
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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 29 May. 2026.
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