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
Newhart — who is remembered for his signature deadpan style — died on July 18, 2024, following a series of short illnesses.
—
Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
The three musicians toured as Tap occasionally over the years, and collaborated on a number of similarly deadpan projects.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
Coel, the boundary-pushing revelation from I May Destroy You, is a perfect foil, hiding Lori’s feelings behind her deadpan delivery, unblinking sphinx-like stare and wary body language but poised to shoot barbs when the moment calls for them.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
His banter with deadpan Principal Woodman (John Sylvester White) and his loving, eye-rolling wife Julie (Marcia Strassman) brought the series full circle, blending schoolyard shenanigans with heartfelt adult comedy.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
The three musicians toured as Tap occasionally over the years, and collaborated on a number of similarly deadpan projects.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
Coel, the boundary-pushing revelation from I May Destroy You, is a perfect foil, hiding Lori’s feelings behind her deadpan delivery, unblinking sphinx-like stare and wary body language but poised to shoot barbs when the moment calls for them.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
His banter with deadpan Principal Woodman (John Sylvester White) and his loving, eye-rolling wife Julie (Marcia Strassman) brought the series full circle, blending schoolyard shenanigans with heartfelt adult comedy.
—Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
Adjective
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In lightweight cotton, neutral silk, or sumptuous cashmere, a long-sleeve becomes a blank canvas for styling.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Where the stables had been was blank space.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The Chalmers research group has now provided a detailed account of a previously enigmatic phase of formamidinium lead iodide.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
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For a planet already famous for its beauty and mysteries, Saturn just became even more enigmatic.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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There are also plenty of promotional materials dating from the building’s launch, and in one video clip, Kurokawa sells the merits of the building to an impassive audience of smoking businessmen.—
Anthony Paletta,
Curbed,
2 Sep. 2025
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She is described, variously, as quirky, impassive, naive, vulgar, blithely optimistic.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But the drama can be very stolid, borderline dull at times.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
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Michelle DeYoung was a somewhat stolid Herodias, Piotr Buszewski a fiercely ardent Narraboth.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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