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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadpan
With her signature deadpan sarcasm and round glasses, Daria critiqued suburban life and the insanity of high school popularity contests with wit and honesty.
—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
22 June 2026
With his signature deadpan humor, Waititi is referencing the book’s beautifully meditative quality.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
18 June 2026
Dippold is a veteran of Parks and Recreation, and Widow’s Bay features some excellent workplace comedy bits with deadpan performances from Kate O’Flynn, Dale Dickey, and Jeff Hiller.
—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
Actor Efren Ramírez nailed Pedro's laconic, deadpan style that made his promise a hilarious highlight.
—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
22 June 2026
With his signature deadpan humor, Waititi is referencing the book’s beautifully meditative quality.
—
Rebecca Ford,
Vanity Fair,
18 June 2026
Dippold is a veteran of Parks and Recreation, and Widow’s Bay features some excellent workplace comedy bits with deadpan performances from Kate O’Flynn, Dale Dickey, and Jeff Hiller.
—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2026
Actor Efren Ramírez nailed Pedro's laconic, deadpan style that made his promise a hilarious highlight.
—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
Adjective
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Recent photos taken of the portion of the Kennedy Center still hidden by the tarp show the blank space where the sitting president’s name—which was added to the building in December of 2025—used to be.
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Floor-to-ceiling shelving can turn a blank wall into valuable storage, tall drapery panels can make even the most modest historic structure feel expansive, and oversized artwork can help the eye travel through a room in a way that feels immersive and intentional.
Adjective
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The 47-year-old, wearing a blue suit and blue tie, was expressionless as the charges against him were described.
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The routine calls for this chic, almost expressionless vibe — very different from a typical K-pop performance.
Adjective
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Excavations at Rising Star have sparked debate about whether these little hominins had all ended up in the caves by tragic accident, or whether they’d been carefully placed there by other members of their enigmatic species, dubbed Homo naledi.
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Llúcia Garcia took no acting lessons to prepare for her first role — her Marina is a bit enigmatic, a little hard to read, a mystery of a young woman with a face sometimes half-shrouded by a movie camera, restlessly curious.
Adjective
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Unlike the coolly impassive Pop artists, the Who weren’t afraid to get personal, or to let their art echo the anxious, kinky, maladjusted yammering in their own heads.
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Her face remained impassive even as tears formed and began to travel down her cheek.
Adjective
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Many Labour members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
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Many Labor members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
Cite this Entry
“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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