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Definition of stoicnext
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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

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 stoic Surrounded by Bruins royalty — including fellow number retirees Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk, Terry O’Reilly, Rick Middleton, Cam Neely and Willie O’Ree — Chara remained more or less stoic. Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 Young is more inward, stoic, but ready to get a good dig in when it’s called for. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026 However, after leading the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances, our voters recognized his stoic and steady leadership. The Athletic Peak Staff, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026 The group includes its stoic chief, Rick Thayer, a man of few words who offers me a bowl of his homemade chili. Stephanie Pearson, Outside, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stoic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stoic
Adjective
  • There’s a sign on the door asking customers to be patient.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The changes allow pharmacists to focus more on patient care while enhancing after-hours access, when 75% of testing and treatments occur.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The Minneapolis Police Department asked for the public to remain calm after Saturday's shooting.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 25 Jan. 2026
  • The police chief appealed for calm, both from the public and federal law enforcement.
    Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Earlier phases examined high-level safety objectives, passive safety features, cooling systems, containment strategies, and the management of severe accident conditions, with reports from these phases already published.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 Jan. 2026
  • In essence, live programming transforms Netflix from a passive viewing application into an actively engaging advertising environment.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Even Universal’s stolid Lew Wasserman was suddenly looking for buyers and firing existing staff.
    Peter Bart, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
  • Joel Edgerton plays Robert Grainier, an orphan who grows up to be a stolid working man.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The generals reduced even their limited need for an obedient prime minister.
    Mohammed Hanif, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Since Francoism promoted an image of women as obedient wives and self-sacrificing mothers devoted to the Catholic family model, Republican women were demonized as immoral, dangerous and unworthy of motherhood.
    Zaya Rustamova, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • The Stoic philosophers, fixated on the impassive, idealized masculine, wrote often of death, attempting to acknowledge its inevitability while staring untroubled into its abyss.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The story of children financially supporting their immigrant parents can feed into the myth of the Asian American model minority, which, in part, stereotypes Asian Americans as obedient, hard-working and uncomplaining.
    Mike Dang, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Queen Elizabeth II was formal, interested, uncomplaining, and always respectful.
    Caitlin Flanagan, The Atlantic, 12 Nov. 2022
Adjective
  • This phlegmatic response was a good summary of current U.S. policy: Washington favors Maduro’s downfall, but its position lacks clarity and is not backed by the actions—including military strikes inside Venezuela—that would bring about the outcome U.S. officials appear to want.
    Elliott Abrams, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2025
  • Sante is phlegmatic when asked if Substack is doing anything strictly new.
    Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stoic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stoic. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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