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
Chase sequences through streets and down staircases are more thuddingly deadpan than raucously camp.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Robbie, who proved her deadpan comedic acting chops in Barbie, is a joy as the flighty, vain, fast-talking Cathy, totally lacking in self-awareness.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Araki flashes back a tongue-in-cheek nine-and-a-half weeks to show us, alternating key moments from Elliot’s life with deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played, with Araki’s undeniable casting brilliance, by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett will bring her deadpan stylings to the Majestic Theatre on May 21 with Truman Sinclair in the opening slot.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Robbie, who proved her deadpan comedic acting chops in Barbie, is a joy as the flighty, vain, fast-talking Cathy, totally lacking in self-awareness.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Araki flashes back a tongue-in-cheek nine-and-a-half weeks to show us, alternating key moments from Elliot’s life with deadpan police interrogation scenes, where Elliot is questioned by officers played, with Araki’s undeniable casting brilliance, by Margaret Cho and Johnny Knoxville.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett will bring her deadpan stylings to the Majestic Theatre on May 21 with Truman Sinclair in the opening slot.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
Adjective
-
The backs are mostly blank except for a player name and card number.—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
And when there was no space left in the hallway, large, blank canvases were hung in the kitchen to make room for more.—
Maddy Keyes,
The Frontier,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The routine calls for this chic, almost expressionless vibe — very different from a typical K-pop performance.—
Billboard Korea,
Billboard,
26 Nov. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
At the center of it all in the Lone Star State were the always-enigmatic Latinx voters — whose voting patterns have long flummoxed pollsters.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
An architect by training, Censori, 31, has been an enigmatic and largely silent fixture in West’s orbit for years, making her statements mostly through provocative performance art that often incorporates public nudity.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite his impassive eyes, balding pate, and slit of a smile, Robert Duvall could be volcanic and melancholic, mysterious and straightforward, vengeful and merciful.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Crucially, Depardon and his impassive camera refuse to pass judgment, letting the subjects—among society’s most vulnerable and marginalized—speak for themselves.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Roosevelt, a stolid 19 masonry floors, can’t compete in this new game.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Even Universal’s stolid Lew Wasserman was suddenly looking for buyers and firing existing staff.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
