variants
also stoney
as in stern
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
the judge's stony demeanor didn't raise the defendant's hopes for a more lenient sentence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stony
One is a stony oubliette with crystals growing out of the walls.
—
Erin Alberty, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
Brain coral is a hard coral, also known as a stony coral or reef builder.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Playing the stony henchman who very gradually emits flickers of affection for his reluctant mark has brought the actor, already famous in his motherland, international visibility and a place in the awards conversation.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2024
But some people encounter my stony glare and ask if the sun is bothering me.
—Sarah Garfinkel, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stony 
Erin Alberty, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
Brain coral is a hard coral, also known as a stony coral or reef builder.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Playing the stony henchman who very gradually emits flickers of affection for his reluctant mark has brought the actor, already famous in his motherland, international visibility and a place in the awards conversation.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2024
But some people encounter my stony glare and ask if the sun is bothering me.
—Sarah Garfinkel, The New Yorker, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stony
Adjective
-
Many in government won’t want to face stern judgments from an independent outsider.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The collision — and the flouting of the flight restriction by others — prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a stern warning against flying drones near wildfires.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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By and large, the results released Wednesday paint a grim portrait of academic recovery since the pandemic, especially in reading.—
Jacob Turcotte,
The Christian Science Monitor,
29 Jan. 2025
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Altman’s perspective doesn't need to be a grim forecast.—
Dan Fitzpatrick,
Forbes,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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They are expected to manage the roster with a little more thought paid to player welfare and a little less thought paid to marginal gains and ruthless efficiency.—
Andrew Baggarly,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Since the regime fell, the evidence of a ruthless police state has grown overwhelming.—
Ian Crouch,
The New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
That question is particularly pointed in the case of the U. of C. Will its promotion of freedom of expression and inquiry prove in the end to have been a marketing strategy that can be discarded in the face of harsh political realities?—
Jamie Kalven,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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These durable, lidded resin containers are designed to keep items dry and safe from harsh winter weather.—
Jené Luciani Sena,
Fox News,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Advertisement None of that has immunized the lowly smelt from its most obdurate enemy: partisan folly.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2025
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Nevertheless, Biden’s obdurate unwillingness to step aside for younger, more plausible Democratic candidates resulted in the reëmergence of his nemesis.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Liu doesn’t invite a shred of sympathy for this pitiless mom.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
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The story mirrors the original, following a fresh batch of desperate have-nots competing in elementary school games with a sizable fortune for the winners and pitiless execution for the losers.—
Tony Maglio,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The funniest movie ever made about the experience of being snubbed for an Oscar nomination, For Your Consideration found Christopher Guest and company moving away from their patented mockumentary format for this hilarious and merciless satire.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2025
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But some part of her yearns to be merciless—to make all these women confess.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Strings — and the fact the Nampa show happens May 20, before Idaho temperatures boil — makes this music lineup tough to resist.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Feb. 2025
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On the other hand, Hill has had a tough time recently.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near stony
Cite this Entry
“Stony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stony. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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