as in blank
not expressing any emotion
he delivered the joke in such a deadpan voice that we thought at first that he was serious
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deadpan
Unlike most podcasts, the TBPN hosts insert deadpan ads for Ramp, upscale Airbnb competitor Wander, and luxury-watch marketplace Bezel seamlessly into their flow of conversation.
—
Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
Adventurous cinephiles came to worship his enveloping dramas, and directors like Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant were heavily influenced by his contemplative style and underappreciated deadpan comedic style.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
With her signature deadpan sarcasm and round glasses, Daria critiqued suburban life and the insanity of high school popularity contests with wit and honesty.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 30 Dec. 2025
The actress handles the deadpan demeanor of the piece with utmost precision.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
Adventurous cinephiles came to worship his enveloping dramas, and directors like Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant were heavily influenced by his contemplative style and underappreciated deadpan comedic style.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
With her signature deadpan sarcasm and round glasses, Daria critiqued suburban life and the insanity of high school popularity contests with wit and honesty.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 30 Dec. 2025
The actress handles the deadpan demeanor of the piece with utmost precision.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
Adjective
-
Too Much Wall Art Wall art is a great way to make a space feel more complete, but don't be afraid to leave some blank space here and there.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
10 Feb. 2026
-
From crisp cutouts decorated in royal icing, to soft and cakey sugar cookies, or even sugar cookies bars, the simple vanilla dough is a blank canvas for all sorts of designs and flavors.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The routine calls for this chic, almost expressionless vibe — very different from a typical K-pop performance.—
Billboard Korea,
Billboard,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Bale ran to the corner of the pitch, and, having been an expressionless bystander for much of the evening, shouted in ecstasy.—
Hua Hsu,
The New Yorker,
21 Nov. 2022
Adjective
-
There’s a fair share of dancefloor warriors—techno devotees, avante-garde fashionistas, curious international travelers, and the enigmatic regulars.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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And then, as happens so often with this most enigmatic of bands, the pendulum swung back.—
Ben Cardew,
Pitchfork,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Crucially, Depardon and his impassive camera refuse to pass judgment, letting the subjects—among society’s most vulnerable and marginalized—speak for themselves.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Stoic philosophers, fixated on the impassive, idealized masculine, wrote often of death, attempting to acknowledge its inevitability while staring untroubled into its abyss.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Even Universal’s stolid Lew Wasserman was suddenly looking for buyers and firing existing staff.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
18 Dec. 2025
-
Joel Edgerton plays Robert Grainier, an orphan who grows up to be a stolid working man.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
21 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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