impassive
pronunciation
How to pronounce impassive in British English:
UK [ɪmˈpæsɪv]
How to pronounce impassive in American English:
US [ɪmˈpæsɪv]
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- Adjective:
- having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited
- deliberately impassive in manner
Word Origin
- impassive (adj.)
- 1660s, "not feeling pain," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + passive. Meaning "void of emotions" is from 1690s. Related: Impassively; impassiveness (1640s).
Synonym
Example
- 1. The film 's impassive faces will always , at some point , open a trapdoor into self-revelation .
- 2. The saga over sudan shows how sensitive the chinese authorities have become to criticism , despite their impassive reputation .
- 3. Mr breivik remained impassive throughout , staring at a spot on the desk in front of him as relatives of the dead wept in the rows of seats behind him .
- 4. A group of men sat in a doorway smoking tobacco from a big bong , watching me walk past with impassive faces .