as in stoic
showing no emotion
He stood there stone-faced while the verdict was announced. a stone-faced judge
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Recent Examples of stone-faced
Both were stone-faced when the jury’s verdicts were read, but afterward Rivera walked over to Nuhfer and gave her a hug at the defense table.
—
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
As the others grinned and grimaced at their rivals’ responses, Becerra was as stone-faced as Buster Keaton.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Although the Marshallese players were mostly stone-faced, their eyes—briefly flitting over to the crowd and the many cameras that followed them onto the field—belied both their excitement and anxiety at the gravity of the moment.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026
Sitting stone-faced in the audience, Chalamet couldn’t help seeming more princely and entitled by comparison.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Most other Democrats sat stone-faced but some appeared upset or annoyed.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Holland remained stone-faced, listening.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, who often remains stone-faced on the bench during games, actually appeared to be outwardly enjoying himself during a 27-7 run that put an exclamation point on the Jayhawks’ 86-62 victory over Kansas State on Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2026
The men entered a negotiating room stone-faced.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
As the others grinned and grimaced at their rivals’ responses, Becerra was as stone-faced as Buster Keaton.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Although the Marshallese players were mostly stone-faced, their eyes—briefly flitting over to the crowd and the many cameras that followed them onto the field—belied both their excitement and anxiety at the gravity of the moment.
—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 21 Apr. 2026
Sitting stone-faced in the audience, Chalamet couldn’t help seeming more princely and entitled by comparison.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Most other Democrats sat stone-faced but some appeared upset or annoyed.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
Holland remained stone-faced, listening.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, who often remains stone-faced on the bench during games, actually appeared to be outwardly enjoying himself during a 27-7 run that put an exclamation point on the Jayhawks’ 86-62 victory over Kansas State on Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2026
The men entered a negotiating room stone-faced.
—Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stone-faced
Adjective
-
Her back stiffens, and her usually stoic face is visibly gripped by fear.—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While his son battled against Fonseca Sunday night, his father sat stoic and alone — no hometown entourage in sight — in the courtside players’ box.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hands clasped, head bowed, blank and fair of face.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 May 2026
-
My position is that California should continue the project, but under a much stricter framework, which includes realistic phasing, stronger independent oversight, honest public timelines and no blank-check mentality.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
This style appeals for its timeless charm and ability to feel collected and lived-in over time.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
-
For one, Palestine by Joe Sacco, which found its way onto academic syllabi before gaining steam as a collected volume of graphic reporting.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
McIlroy overcame some early inconsistency to put together a composed round, while Burns leaned on excellent ball-striking to match him at the top.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Before Tuesday night, Konate had looked much more composed and commanding.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Late contributions from Diggins and Elizabeth Williams provided a calm closing act, with the Sky outscoring the hosts 30-16 in the fourth quarter.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
-
The moment of calm belies what is turning out to be an unstoppable year for the Colombian, who FIFA announced on Friday as one of the stars headlining the World Cup’s opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
It’s been maddening to watch a lineup full of high-end hitters come up empty night after night in April, a month that has felt as long as about three.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
After sitting empty since Sting and Styler moved out, per the New York Post, the stylish spread has just returned to the market for $45 million, a whopping $5 million less than the current owner paid.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stone-faced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stone-faced. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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