impassive

Examples

• All

• Yi's face remained impassive, but his awareness had subtly shifted past her.

  Fiction book (1990)

• He wore an impassive expression throughout the meeting, showing no signs of his true feelings.

• "Smith nodded, his face impassive, and they did not speak for a while.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Yet he stood, face impassive, unaware of her as she tried so desperately to get his attention.

  Fiction book (1990)

• He wore an impassive expression on his face.

  The Atomic Cafe (1982)

• But, as a good Indian, he swallowed his feelings and remained impassive, staring into the distance.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Pitt tried to iron out his emotions and look impassive, and he was almost sure he failed.

  Fiction book (1993)

• And Frank Gloriana was seated behind the desk, impassive and doing nothing.

  Fiction book (1992)

• McLeod remained impassive, but Peregrine shivered slightly, not daring to say a word.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Spock, Uhura, Chekov, et al., wait with impassive faces as crewman Dax enters the area.

  Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

B

blank

vsimpassive

89 4.2

A look that shows no expression or understanding

is about not showing emotion rather than lacking comprehension or awareness

I

indifferent

vsimpassive

46 4.4

Not interested or showing no strong feeling about something

is about lacking outward emotion rather than inner lack of concern

A

apathetic

vsimpassive

24 6.8

Not showing much interest or energy

is about not showing emotion externally rather than inner numbness

E

expressionless

vsimpassive

11 4.4

Having a face or way of acting that shows no feeling

is the broader idea of not showing emotion beyond face or manner

E

emotionless

vsimpassive

11 5.5

Not showing feelings on the face or in the voice

is specifically about lacking outward emotion rather than inner feeling

U

unemotional

vsimpassive

11 4.4

Not showing strong feelings

is the neutral idea of not showing emotion without strong passion

D

deadpan

vsimpassive

9 7.5

A way of speaking that shows no feeling, often to be funny

is plain lack of emotion without deliberate comic intent

U

unmoved

vsimpassive

8 5.1

Not showing strong feelings or any visible reaction

focuses on lack of reaction to events rather than general expression

S

stolid

vsimpassive

5 8.8

Someone who shows little feeling and rarely reacts

is about lacking visible feeling rather than being slow to react

U

unsmiling

vsimpassive

3 4.0

Having a serious face that looks unfriendly

is about not showing emotion more broadly than absence of smiling

P

poker-faced

vsimpassive

• Informal

1 6.9

Not showing emotion to hide thoughts or feelings

is the general absence of visible emotion rather than strategic concealment

I

inexpressive

vsimpassive

1 5.5

Having little feeling in the face or voice

is about not showing emotion generally rather than low expressiveness only

A

affectless

vsimpassive

1 9.3

A person who shows no emotion in the face or voice

is the general absence of showing emotion rather than inner state

C

cold-eyed

vsimpassive

1 7.6

Not showing strong feeling when judging something

is the general absence of visible feeling rather than deliberate detachment

U

unimpassioned

vsimpassive

1 7.4

Calm and not showing strong feelings

is the general lack of outward emotion rather than reasoned detachment

I

impassible

vsimpassive

8.3

Not showing any emotion on the face

focuses on not showing emotion rather than being unaffected by events

U

unexpressive

vsimpassive

5.5

A person or thing that shows very little feeling in the face and voice

refers to not showing emotion more generally rather than looks only

U

undemonstrative

vsimpassive

7.6

Does not show feelings openly to other people

is about not showing emotion rather than feeling nothing inside

U

undemonstrated

vsimpassive

7.6

Not showing feelings openly so others cannot tell how they feel

is the same restraint in public display rather than inner emotion

Antonyms

E

emotional

535 2.1

Showing strong feelings that are easy to see

E

expressive

41 3.4

Showing feelings and ideas clearly in the face or voice

How Emotional

expressive

41 3.4

reserved

3.7

calm

735 1.0

impassive

11 7.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology