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stoical

[stoh-i-kuh l]
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adjective
  1. impassive; characterized by a calm, austere fortitude befitting the Stoics: a stoical sufferer.
  2. (initial capital letter) of or relating to the Stoics.
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Origin of stoical

Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at Stoic, -al1
Related formssto·i·cal·ly, adverbsto·i·cal·ness, nounhy·per·sto·i·cal, adjectivenon·sto·i·cal, adjectivenon·sto·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·sto·i·cal·ness, nounsu·per·sto·i·cal, adjectivesu·per·sto·i·cal·ly, adverbun·sto·i·cal, adjectiveun·sto·i·cal·ly, adverb

Synonyms

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1. imperturbable, cool, indifferent.

Antonyms

1. sympathetic, warm, demonstrative, effusive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for stoical

Historical Examples

  • One might call Cecily a stoical amorist, an erotic philosopher.

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • The Timaeus also contains an anticipation of the stoical life according to nature.

    Timaeus

    Plato

  • The sea spat at it—and stoical, it streamed with water as though he had been weeping.

  • With this stoical temper come moods of questioning reflection.

    Oswald Langdon

    Carson Jay Lee

  • The simple, austere, stoical, heroic man she admired as one above her.

British Dictionary definitions for stoical

stoical

adjective
  1. characterized by impassivity or resignation
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Derived Formsstoically, adverbstoicalness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for stoical

mid-15c., in reference to philosophers, from stoic + -al (2). Related: Stoically. From 1570s as "indifferent to pleasure or pain."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper