as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
delivered the reprimand with a harsh and unsmiling face
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Recent Examples of unsmiling
Often taunted by tabloids for her unsmiling demeanor, Victoria shows off her sense of humor and gets real about some of the most difficult parts of her past, including her struggles with an eating disorder and almost losing her fashion business entirely.
—
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
The single mother of three was at her job that morning when she was asked to report immediately to the front of the building, where Wainscott was met by police officers — who showed her a photo of an unsmiling man in his early 30s, with short brown hair and a light goatee.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
The camera showed an unsmiling Taurasi shaking her head.
—Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
His Rick Honeycutt is utterly humorless, but the movie isn’t; there are plenty of laughs in pitting his deadpan impatience — conveyed by an unsmiling mouth under a push-broom mustache — against the idiot confidence of Billy Crudup’s man-child entrepreneur.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unsmiling
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
The single mother of three was at her job that morning when she was asked to report immediately to the front of the building, where Wainscott was met by police officers — who showed her a photo of an unsmiling man in his early 30s, with short brown hair and a light goatee.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
The camera showed an unsmiling Taurasi shaking her head.
—Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025
His Rick Honeycutt is utterly humorless, but the movie isn’t; there are plenty of laughs in pitting his deadpan impatience — conveyed by an unsmiling mouth under a push-broom mustache — against the idiot confidence of Billy Crudup’s man-child entrepreneur.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unsmiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsmiling
Adjective
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Scenes from some of the Robert Pearson character’s old movies are done in a 1940s Hollywood style using young actors that resemble James Dean or Robert Mitchum juxtaposed with the stark, solemn, isolated existence of the elderly Pearson.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
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Although the pope celebrates mass regularly on Sundays, feast days, and many other occasions, the Urbi et Orbi blessing is much rarer, reserved for solemn events in the church’s liturgical calendar.—
Leo XIV,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The cast is a murderers row of British actors, and the twisting plot of the novel is full of introspection and doubt, which makes for a tight 127 minutes of shocking revelations told through stern and troubled looks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Apr. 2026
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This led to a stern, unanimous California Supreme Court ruling in 2020 barring the practice.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The driver of the oncoming car was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, and the three passengers died.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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The three men who were shot were taken to a hospital, with one patient in serious condition and two in critical condition, a Fire Department spokesperson said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsmiling. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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