as in blank
not expressing any emotion
he delivered the joke in such a deadpan voice that we thought at first that he was serious
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of deadpan
One of his most recent curatorial successes, a 2023-24 retrospective of Ed Ruscha, known for his deadpan wit, received praise from critics.
—
Zachary Small, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In expressing their disbelief, people have been known to run away screaming or even burst into tears while Blaine maintains his deadpan, stoic facade.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Gonzales also has the right deadpan style to carry the tone of the books.
—Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Zachary Small, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
In expressing their disbelief, people have been known to run away screaming or even burst into tears while Blaine maintains his deadpan, stoic facade.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
Armed with her signature razor-sharp wit and deadpan charm, Wednesday is also plunged into a new bone-chilling supernatural mystery.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Gonzales also has the right deadpan style to carry the tone of the books.
—Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
Adjective
-
The film, with humor and authenticity, delves into the fallout from his audacious act — delivering two blank canvases while withholding the 532,000 Danish kroner paid to him by the commissioning museum.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2025
-
While a decline in sailings could lead to a drop in prices, during Covid, blank sailings were identified by shippers around the world as a reason for container rates that spiked as high as $30,000.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Bale ran to the corner of the pitch, and, having been an expressionless bystander for much of the evening, shouted in ecstasy.—
Hua Hsu,
The New Yorker,
21 Nov. 2022
-
The company poured $10 billion into its Reality Labs division last year, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was criticized last week after posting a selfie that showed an expressionless version of his avatar in front of the Eiffel Tower.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Aug. 2022
Adjective
-
Julianne Moore toes the line between enigmatic socialite and cult leader in the new trailer for Sirens, a new limited series premiering May 22 on Netflix.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The city—ever elegant, ever enigmatic—set the stage for one of the magazine’s most iconic stories: The Last Waltz, Mario Testino’s sweeping September 2006 editorial starring Natalia Vodianova as a modern-day empress gliding through Schönbrunn and beyond.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The tone and point of view were lofty, sharp-eyed, seemingly impassive.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
-
Farewell to the impassive, agile grapplers, and to the whiplash pleasure of a badminton rally.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Chris is young and eager to impress; Duncan, who’s being reluctantly put out to pasture after this last mission, is jokey and irreverent (not a stretch for Harrelson); and Dave is ultra-serious, conveying authority through his stolid demeanor.—
Frank Scheck,
The Hollywood Reporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share