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deadpan Definition

dead·pan (dedpan′)

noun

  1. an expressionless face
  2. a person, as an actor, who has or assumes such a face

adjective, adverb

without expression or show of emotion; blank(ly)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·panned′, -·pan′·ning

to do or say (something) in a deadpan manner

deadpan Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • humor: He was ruthless when needed, and his deadpan humor that was a trademark of Connery's returned.
  • humor: I assumed that Jimmy Nail's delivery of deadpan humor had come with age - I was wrong!
  • wit: Singer and storyteller Sid Marty has also traveled more than once from Canada to amuse the audience with his deadpan wit.
  • comedy: David Hyde-Pierce proves his flair for deadpan comedy in this episode.
  • vocal: The lyrics work well with Conrad Standish ' s deadpan vocals, a certain likeness to Jarvis Cocker in their delivery.
  • delivery: Matthew's deadpan delivery helped him beat off competition from acts who were all nominated by the best comedy clubs from across the country.

Modifying Another Word

  • deliciously: The deliciously deadpan humor is perfect for newly confident readers.
  • wonderfully: Jimmy and his buddies soon find themselves on the wrong side of their employer and his hitman, a wonderfully deadpan Steve Buscemi.
  • completely: Most of the time I was completely deadpan " .
  • totally: He squinted at the camera and started trying to read the autocue in a totally deadpan manner.
  • so: Her manner is so deadpan that I thought she was sending me up, but not so.

Browse dictionary entries near deadpan

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  8. deadfall
  9. deadeye
  10. deadening
  1. deadwood
  2. deaf
  3. deaf-and-dumb
  4. deaf-mute
  5. deafen
  6. deafening
  7. deal
  8. deal in
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  10. dealate