stolid
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of stolid
First recorded in 1595–1605; from the Latin stolidus “inert, dull, stupid”
Explanation
A stolid person can’t be moved to smile or show much sign of life, in much the same way as something solid, like a giant boulder, is immovable. Both are expressionless. It's hard to get excited about the word stolid. It refers to emotionless people or things, and it even sounds pretty dull. Your face may be stolid, as you plod through the unemotional history of the word born in the 17th century of little more than Latin words for "foolish." In some definitions, stolid does have more complimentary synonyms, such as "dependable" or "calm," but these can be overshadowed by other words for stolid — "empty," "blank," and "vacant," to name a few.
Vocabulary lists containing stolid
Fahrenheit 451
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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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.
Stolid men in helmets and rubber boots, they listened in silence as an intelligence officer briefed them on a new route in to their positions.
From New York Times • Jan. 8, 2024
Stolid of brushwork, colours fading, it was a picture pressed so far back into art history as to be practically a period piece.
From The Guardian • Dec. 23, 2012
Stolid, square, unexciting but commonsensical, he is trying to appeal to the old-fashioned instincts of the average voter.
From Time Magazine Archive
Stolid Mr. Miller tried to look at ease.
From Time Magazine Archive
Stolid as he was and used to the roar of the great guns, he made hasty work of his breakfast for he was nervous and anxious to be on the move.
From Tom Slade Motorcycle Dispatch Bearer by Owen, R. Emmett (Robert Emmett)
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.
