Stolid

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈstɒl.ɪd/

Definitions

1. Showing little or no emotion, reaction, or interest in response to events or stimuli
2. Displaying a calm and unemotional demeanor even in situations that might provoke feelings
3. Remaining outwardly composed and unaffected, with minimal expression of feelings or responses

Etymology: Latin "stolidus" meant "foolish, obtuse, slow," and that original sense of dullness is still visible in the modern word. English borrowed it through Middle French "stolide," so the word arrived already carrying a judgment about a person's wits rather than their calm. Over time the emphasis shifted from stupidity to a kind of impassive steadiness: someone who shows no reaction is no longer necessarily slow, only unmoved on the outside. The two senses sit uncomfortably close together. A stolid face can look blank because the mind behind it is dull, or because its owner is deliberately withholding any sign of feeling. English speakers have kept both possibilities open for centuries, and the word still hangs between praise for composure and a faint suspicion of thick-headedness.

Synonyms: impassive, unemotional, stoic

Antonyms: emotional, sensitive