as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
delivered the reprimand with a harsh and unsmiling face
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Recent Examples of unsmiling
Soon after the baby is declared dead, Nina is blamed by the woman’s husband and Nina’s unsmiling supervisor (Merab Ninidze) launches an investigation into what went wrong.
—
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
On his first trip to the Holy See, Francis’ unsmiling welcome was seen as frigid and unfriendly; both encounters were markedly brief.
—Federico Perelmuter, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025
But at that moment, looking up from the examination table at Tina, her dark hair framing her unsmiling face, Lilian neither hesitated nor flinched.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Michaels is an oxymoron: a comedy legend known by the public for his unsmiling face.
—Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsmiling
Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
On his first trip to the Holy See, Francis’ unsmiling welcome was seen as frigid and unfriendly; both encounters were markedly brief.
—Federico Perelmuter, The Dial, 13 Mar. 2025
But at that moment, looking up from the examination table at Tina, her dark hair framing her unsmiling face, Lilian neither hesitated nor flinched.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Michaels is an oxymoron: a comedy legend known by the public for his unsmiling face.
—Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unsmiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unsmiling
Adjective
-
Only the buzz of Israeli drones overhead filled the solemn silence.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
7 June 2025
-
The score becomes grand and syrupy whenever there’s a big emotional revelation; characters deliver solemn soliloquies on the orderly beauty of math.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
It’s submerged 11 to 15 feet deep, with its stern facing the shore.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 June 2025
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Tonight: Explore! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Avoid arguments with others today, which might arise with Mercury in your House of Communications at odds with stern Saturn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
There were no serious injuries reported or arrests made among the crowd of about 500 teenagers.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
-
Nobody else can do what Isak does, but Newcastle lack serious backup at centre-forward.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unsmiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unsmiling. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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