stolid

adjective

stol·id ˈstä-ləd

: having or expressing little or no sensibility : unemotional

stolidity

stä-ˈli-də-tē

stə-

noun

stolidly

ˈstä-ləd-lē

adverb

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Sharpen Up With the History of Stolid

Stolid derives from stolidus, a word that means "dull" or "stupid" in Latin. It is also distantly related to the word stultify, meaning "to cause to appear or be stupid, foolish, or absurdly illogical." The earliest examples of usage for stolid, dating back to the early 17th century, indicate that it too was originally associated with a lack of smarts; it was used to describe people who were considered dull or stupid because they didn't wear their emotions on their sleeves. By the 1800s, however, stolid was frequently appearing without the connotation of foolishness, and it continues to be free of such overtones today.

Choose the Right Synonym for stolid

impassive, stoic, phlegmatic, apathetic, stolid mean unresponsive to something that might normally excite interest or emotion.

impassive stresses the absence of any external sign of emotion in action or facial expression.

met the news with an impassive look

stoic implies an apparent indifference to pleasure or especially to pain often as a matter of principle or self-discipline.

was resolutely stoic even in adversity

phlegmatic implies a temperament or constitution hard to arouse.

a phlegmatic man unmoved by tears

apathetic may imply a puzzling or deplorable indifference or inertness.

charitable appeals met an apathetic response

stolid implies a habitual absence of interest, responsiveness, or curiosity.

stolid workers wedded to routine

Example Sentences

She remained stolid during the trial. the butler responded to the duchess's constant demands with stolid indifference

Recent Examples on the Web But the earnings-growth engine that was expected to replace those stolid stocks—China’s previously dynamic internet sector—now faces structural headwinds following regulators’ concerted assault of the past two years.

Jacky Wong, WSJ, 25 Nov. 2022 At the same time, informal settlements exploded across the capital’s south even as stolid concrete prisms, after the International Style, rose alongside a handful of broad avenues, some of which connected the historic center to the booming north.

Michael Snyder Rafael Gamo, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2022 Her consummate grasp of the art of the stage galvanizes this otherwise stolid production into searing life.

Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 11 July 2022 In a culture shaped by the point-and-click entertainments of Twitter, TikTok and YouTube, many younger Americans might regard a visit to one of the nation’s great historic houses as a stolid affair.

Danny Heitman, WSJ, 1 July 2022 Greek and Roman influences were everywhere, producing too many stolid buildings.

John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 July 2022 This kind of stolid American decency comes easily to him.

Justin Changfilm Critic, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2022 Employees at several Apple Stores across the country are quietly working to unionize, according to people familiar with the efforts, as growing dissent among hourly workers threatens to disrupt one of the most stolid tech giants.

Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2022 Thus began an avalanche against a typically stolid Celtics defense.

New York Times, 22 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stolid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.