impassive Hear it!

impassive Definition

im·pas·sive (im pas′iv)

adjective

  1. not feeling pain; not liable to suffering; insensible
  2. not feeling or showing emotion; placid; calm

Etymology: < in- + passive

Related Forms:

impassive Synonyms

impassive

modif.

indifferent, apathetic, stoic, stolid, phlegmatic, callous, sedate, insensitive, emotionless; see also blank 2, indifferent 1.

impassive means not having or showing any feeling or emotion, although it does not necessarily connote an incapability of being affected his impassive face did not betray his anguish; apathetic stresses an indifference or listlessness from which one cannot easily be stirred to feeling an apathetic electorate; ?stoic implies an austere indifference to pleasure or pain and specifically suggests the ability to endure suffering without flinching he received the bad news with stoic calm; stolid suggests dullness, obtuseness, or stupidity in one who is not easily moved or excited; phlegmatic is applied to one who by temperament is not easily disconcerted or aroused

impassive Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • utterly: It's not easy to get across different reactions when your voice has to remain utterly impassive, yet he managed it.

Modifies a noun

  • expression: Behind them is a man in a sharper suit, black, wearing dark shades and an impassive expression.
  • face: The Russian officer had a broad, pale impassive face.
  • man: A few years later, this impassive man wept bitterly over his first patron's grave.
  • countenance: And then every head turned to Angel, whose impassive countenance didn't actually register the horror I could sense.
  • eye: He usually stood stock-still staring through impassive eyes that were framed by a motionless face.
  • queue: An immigrant is stabbed before an impassive bus queue.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: But he would remain quite impassive, holding her arms at her side until she calmed down, but never hit her.
  • seem: Robert seems almost as impassive toward this sister as he is to his father's rejection.