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
But courage has many faces, and a revolution takes all sorts — and one made up only of unsmiling soldiers is likely to lead only to war.
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Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 June 2024
She’s clipped, judgmental and unsmiling—there hasn’t been a figure of such puritanical disapproval since Amy Adams in The Master.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Belichick, known for his rumpled appearance, unsmiling countenance and monotone voice, was celebrated as savant, savior and sage.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2024
Other people worry that political tensions and anxiety over such things as the death of democracy and the climate crisis have left us collectively unsmiling—that now the only thing people are likely to talk about at a water cooler is cooler water.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unsmiling 
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 June 2024
She’s clipped, judgmental and unsmiling—there hasn’t been a figure of such puritanical disapproval since Amy Adams in The Master.
—Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
Belichick, known for his rumpled appearance, unsmiling countenance and monotone voice, was celebrated as savant, savior and sage.
—Bill Pennington, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2024
Other people worry that political tensions and anxiety over such things as the death of democracy and the climate crisis have left us collectively unsmiling—that now the only thing people are likely to talk about at a water cooler is cooler water.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for unsmiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsmiling
Adjective
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But less interesting doesn’t mean less impactful, as Foxx imbues with solemn reverence the emotional turmoil of re-learning to stand, walk, and clean himself.Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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The actors are prime, but the movie is a solemn affair that could use more grandeur.Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Eldest children may create stern rules for their kids, such as a chore chart and strict bedtime routines.Alex Vance, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024
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The speaker of the National Assembly read a stern statement on camera demanding that the president hold off a visit to the National Assembly until security matters are ironed out.Joohee Cho, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Quality dropped like a stone and serious wine drinkers lost interest.Paul Caputo, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Honolulu Emergency Medical Services told CNN that the patients’ injuries included a serious head injury, lacerations, bruising and loss of consciousness.Alexandra Skores, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near unsmiling
Cite this Entry
“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsmiling. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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