Synonyms of stoic

stoic

adjective

ˈstō-ik 

variants or stoical

1

as in patient

accepting pains or hardships calmly or without complaint

after waiting six years for permission to immigrate to the U.S., the family is stoic about a six-month postponement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• patient
• passive
• obedient
• uncomplaining
• long-suffering
• tolerant
• forbearing
• subordinate
• collected
• willing
• obliging
• restrained
• composed
• resigned
• docile
• amiable
• submissive
• acquiescent
• lenient
• repressed
• conformist
• compliant
• disciplined
• tractable
• placable
• subservient
• complying
• uncaring
• constrained
• slavish
• law-abiding
• contained
• unresponsive
• apathetic
• amenable
• yielding
• inhibited
• agreeable
• unresistant
• curbed
• self-controlled
• self-contained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• impatient
• complaining
• protesting
• fed up
• weary
• defiant
• tired
• resistant
• bored
• kvetchy
• kvetching
• rebellious
• contrary
• refractory
• recalcitrant
• intractable
• disobedient
• insubordinate
• unmanageable
• unruly
• ungovernable

2

as in calm

not feeling or showing emotion

at her husband's funeral she remained stoic, and only a few imagined the depth of her grief

Synonyms & Similar Words

• calm
• stolid
• impassive
• phlegmatic
• emotionless
• unemotional
• numb
• enigmatic
• bland
• undemonstrative
• passionless
• apathetic
• detached
• affectless
• impassible
• cold-blooded
• dry
• collected
• reserved
• composed
• cold
• dispassionate
• empty
• unmoved
• unflappable
• imperturbable
• taciturn
• wooden
• expressionless
• cool
• blank
• aloof
• deadpan
• vacant
• inexpressive
• inscrutable
• stone-faced
• unsentimental
• reticent
• objective
• indifferent
• pitiless
• impersonal
• unconcerned
• unresponsive
• straight-faced
• impenetrable
• unfeeling
• thoughtless
• bloodless
• inconsiderate
• hard-hearted
• insensible

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• emotional
• passionate
• impassioned
• fervent
• demonstrative
• vehement
• enthusiastic
• fervid
• fiery
• zealous
• passional
• ardent
• sentimental
• burning
• sympathetic
• dramatic
• flaming
• red-hot
• glowing
• blazing
• hot-blooded
• melodramatic
• compassionate
• mushy
• mawkish
• histrionic
• responsive
• sensitive
• reactive
• warm-blooded
• gung ho
• maudlin
• overemotional
• perfervid
• gushing
• overheated

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stoic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of stoic are apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, and stolid. While all these words mean "unresponsive to something that might normally excite interest or emotion," stoic implies an apparent indifference to pleasure or especially to pain often as a matter of principle or self-discipline.

was resolutely stoic even in adversity

When is it sensible to use apathetic instead of stoic?

The synonyms apathetic and stoic are sometimes interchangeable, but apathetic may imply a puzzling or deplorable indifference or inertness.

charitable appeals met an apathetic response

When could impassive be used to replace stoic?

The words impassive and stoic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impassive stresses the absence of any external sign of emotion in action or facial expression.

met the news with an impassive look

When can phlegmatic be used instead of stoic?

While in some cases nearly identical to stoic, phlegmatic implies a temperament or constitution hard to arouse.

a phlegmatic man unmoved by tears

When would stolid be a good substitute for stoic?

While the synonyms stolid and stoic are close in meaning, stolid implies a habitual absence of interest, responsiveness, or curiosity.

stolid workers wedded to routine

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stoic

Murray, a stoic veteran, wasn’t sure what to make of Kent, who played with a cocky edge. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 26 July 2026

This take on the mad clown of Gotham is less Jack Nicholson and George Romero, choosing a more stoic approach inspired by Conrad Veidt silent films and German expressionism. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026

But the action is nullified by the fact that Ono assumes the stoic posture of the Buddhist monks seen in the news at the time setting themselves aflame in protest of the Vietnam War. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Hearn nodded when the clerk read him his charges and appeared stoic. — Gary Grumbach, NBC news, 9 July 2026

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