wooden

[wood-n]

adjective

1. consisting or made of wood; wood.

   a wooden ship.

2. stiff, ungainly, or awkward.

   a wooden gait.

3. without spirit, animation, or awareness.

   Synonyms: impassive, lifeless, vacant, expressionless

4. dull or stupid.

5. indicating the fifth event of a series, as a wedding anniversary.

wooden

/ ˈwʊdən /

adjective

1. made from or consisting of wood

2. awkward or clumsy

3. bereft of spirit or animation

   a wooden expression

4. obstinately unyielding

   a wooden attitude

5. mentally slow or dull

6. not highly resonant

   a wooden thud

verb

1. slang,  (tr) to fell or kill (a person or animal)

Other Word Forms

• woodenly adverb
• woodenness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wooden¹

First recorded in 1530–40; wood ¹ + -en ²

Example Sentences

Biotech’s wooden performance discourages generalist investors from joining industry specialists in supporting the sector, which might help startups’ raise capital as well as generate liquidity for venture backers.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The idea started with Robson in 1974, as he taught students at the University of Melbourne by turning wooden balls into models of atoms.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The state of recovery could be seen Wednesday in the bare wooden foundations of buildings in the process of reconstruction.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The living room’s fireplace is gone, but the wooden mantle remains atop a console behind the sofa, graced with a series of colorful ceramic planters by Ashley Campbell and Brian Porray of Happy Hour Ceramics.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The insects will not cause any damage to either you or wooden surfaces.

Read more on BBC