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.
Her face remained impassive even as tears formed and began to travel down her cheek.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026
You would still never describe Pickford as being impassive, however, and Green feels that emotion is still a big part of his make-up.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
Rocky declined to testify in his own defense and sat largely impassive during the trial, brightening only when Rihanna or his kids showed up in the gallery.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2025
The normally impassive Carsley finally let his emotions out after the final whistle, joining the celebrations with his players, beaming as he wrapped an equally elated Jones in a bearhug.
From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2024
Colonel Arbuthnot’s face looked as though it were carved out of wood, it was rigid and impassive.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
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.
