unflappable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unflappable
Explanation
To be unflappable is to be calm and relaxed, even in a stressful situation. A confident person is usually unflappable. Some people get nervous and jittery under pressure, while others are unflappable. If you're unflappable, you stay calm, relaxed, and poised no matter what's happening. A good kindergarten teacher stays unflappable in the midst of chaos, and a successful businessperson is unflappable when faced with deadlines and unexpected problems. The earliest use of this word was in 1953, in reference to the British prime minister. At its root is flap, 20th-century British slang meaning "disturbance or tumult."
Vocabulary lists containing unflappable
The Book Thief
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Mellow Out: Synonyms for "Calm"
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"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Six
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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.
"Unflappable and even-keeled are the words that come to mind," said Douglas Gansler, a former Democratic Maryland attorney general who worked with Corcoran early in his legal career.
From Reuters • Jun. 12, 2023
Unflappable in a strong but occasional wind, Ko wiped away tears when she tapped in for par on the final at Tiburon Golf Club.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 20, 2022
Unflappable and regarded as brilliant, Schuchat eases the tension at meetings by singing ditties about the latest outbreak set to Broadway tunes.
From Salon • Oct. 17, 2020
Unflappable to the end, Ananya seized the opportunity when her steely opponent, Rohan Rajeev, flubbed a simple-looking but obscure Scandinavian-derived word, “marram,” which means a beach grass.
From Washington Times • Jun. 1, 2017
And how does he feel about Frank’s nickname for him, Johnny Unflappable?
From The Guardian • Jul. 13, 2015
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.
