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

Isak is stoic and practical, seeking to carve himself a place in this still-unclaimed land; Inger, whose cleft palate has left her feeling alienated from the outside world, finally feels accepted enough to carve it with him. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Clancy appeared upset during the sidebar but returned to the defense table with a stoic expression. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026

On the other side of the bench, Davis’ son remains stoic, but closes his eyes, leaning against the uncomfortable cloth seats, devastated at the prospect of losing his father to the penitentiary system. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026

That penalty drew an exuberant first-down signal from Belichick, who is normally as stoic as an Easter Island statue. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026

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