impassive

adjective

im·​pas·​sive (ˌ)im-ˈpa-siv 

1

: giving no sign of feeling or emotion : expressionless

2

a

: unsusceptible to or destitute of emotion : apathetic

b

: unsusceptible to physical feeling : insensible

c

archaic : unsusceptible to pain

impassively adverb

impassiveness noun

impassivity

ˌim-ˌpa-ˈsi-və-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• affectless
• apathetic
• cold-blooded
• emotionless
• impassible
• numb
• passionless
• phlegmatic
• stoic
• stoical
• stolid
• undemonstrative
• unemotional

Choose the Right Synonym for impassive

impassive, stoic, phlegmatic, apathetic, stolid mean unresponsive to something that might normally excite interest or emotion.

impassive stresses the absence of any external sign of emotion in action or facial expression.

met the news with an impassive look

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

phlegmatic implies a temperament or constitution hard to arouse.

a phlegmatic man unmoved by tears

apathetic may imply a puzzling or deplorable indifference or inertness.

charitable appeals met an apathetic response

stolid implies a habitual absence of interest, responsiveness, or curiosity.

stolid workers wedded to routine

Examples of impassive in a Sentence

Her face remained impassive throughout the trial.

she remained impassive as the officers informed her of her son's death

Recent Examples on the Web

Our first Killarney run combined the fervent greenness of the previous day with the impassive steepness of our earlier outings. —Alexandra Kleeman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024

The first 18-plus of its 22 seasons were led by Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the impassive Special Agent in Charge and boss extraordinaire who liked to build boats in his basement in his spare time. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2024

The carved, impassive face that suddenly droops, drags, goes baggy with the weight of being alive. —James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2024

Glamorous, amber-colored Radley was in full big-sister mode all afternoon: obedient, impassive, and a little over it after the first few set-ups. —Marley Marius, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Kids Definition

impassive

adjective

im·​pas·​sive (ˈ)im-ˈpas-iv 

: not feeling or not showing emotion

impassively adverb

impassivity

ˌim-ˌpas-ˈiv-ət-ē 

noun