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
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
Probably not Joe, who hasn’t got the dough Carollo sat stone-faced next to attorney Marc Sarnoff before leaving court without comment.
—Miami Herald, 12 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
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
Probably not Joe, who hasn’t got the dough Carollo sat stone-faced next to attorney Marc Sarnoff before leaving court without comment.
—Miami Herald, 12 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
-
However, when a stoic drifter named Herald Loomis (Joshua Boone) and his young daughter, Zonia (Savannah Commodore) arrive on their doorstep, the Holly’s world turns on its axis.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
-
No manuscript of American history is complete without footnotes to its bookstores, and many of them have been much more than stoic spectators to the country’s evolution.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The entire thing is a beautifully chaotic blank canvas for Sacramento’s music community to collaborate and mishmash within itself, to forge a platoon of one-off troupes and ramshackle supergroups — check out some prior videos on the event’s Instagram.—
Aaron Davis,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
-
Her blank face fills the screen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 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
-
Stay calm and adjust without losing your place.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
Carly is cool, calm, controlled, and precise.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 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 4 May. 2026.
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