impassive
Americanadjective
-
without emotion; apathetic; unmoved.
- Synonyms:
- unperturbed, undisturbed, indifferent, stoical, phlegmatic, emotionless
-
calm; serene.
-
unconscious; insensible.
-
not subject to suffering.
- Synonyms:
- unflinching, unaffected
adjective
-
not revealing or affected by emotion; reserved
-
calm; serene; imperturbable
-
rare unconscious or insensible
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of impassive
Explanation
Someone who doesn't seem to react — who is always "taking a pass" in the conversation of life can be described as impassive. Impassive is tricky, as it sounds it should be the opposite of passive. It's not, though. The fact is you can be passive and impassive at the same time. When a passive person gets passed over for a promotion at work, their face might remain impassive upon hearing the news.
Vocabulary lists containing impassive
Number the Stars
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List 7
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 20–25
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Impassive actors engage in dancelike gestures while staring straight into the camera.
From New York Times • May 24, 2018
Impassive behind wraparound Oakley shades, Pacquiao vacuums back a plate of rice, eggs and fish, and listens.
From Slate • Jan. 14, 2012
Impassive, he clipped a cigar, struck a match, puffed air mechanically, threw away the match, walked out unconscious that his cigar had failed to light.
From Time Magazine Archive
Impassive as ever, the President stepped before TV cameras in the Elysee Palace to deliver a blunt assessment of the election outcome.
From Time Magazine Archive
Impassive, without even worrying about making a show of his recent bravery, he listened to the interminable charges of the accusation.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
