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
- impassively adverb
- impassiveness noun
- impassivity noun
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.
There were gasps and tears but no outbursts of emotion; the atmosphere remained sombre; Megrahi was impassive; no-one banged on the glass.
From BBC • Jan. 14, 2025
Mr. Xi was impassive, but his wife, Peng Liyuan, smiled broadly and applauded.
From New York Times • May 7, 2024
Menzies, who plays him minus the historical Stanton’s impressive whiskers, the better to appear a 21st-century screen hero, catches his well-documented resolve, seriousness, impatience and impassive imperiousness.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2024
He added that Pickering had acted with "cold, callous self-interest" throughout, and was "impassive" while listening to the victim impact statement read out in court.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2024
It makes me curious about that impassive man’s life.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
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.
