deadpan

adjective

ˈded-ˌpan How to pronounce deadpan (audio)
Definition of deadpannext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deadpan Manco isn’t necessarily the most dynamic protagonist in the world, but he’s centered and relatable in his anxiety over aging and his genuine love for Sammy, and an amusing deadpan presence with an accent the actor commits too. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 25 June 2026 With his signature deadpan humor, Waititi is referencing the book’s beautifully meditative quality. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 Power brings a warmer and more wayward sensibility to such material than, say, the German photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, whose deadpan grids of coal tipples and water towers drained industrial structures of affect. — Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 23 June 2026 Dippold is a veteran of Parks and Recreation, and Widow’s Bay features some excellent workplace comedy bits with deadpan performances from Kate O’Flynn, Dale Dickey, and Jeff Hiller. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deadpan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deadpan
  1. blank
  2. expressionless
  3. enigmatic
  4. impassive
  5. stolid
Adjective
  • The computer sat in a corner of the living room, next to his record player, where my brother and I would make mixtapes off his vinyl, using a boombox and blank cassettes.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • Regina asks point blank why Louis keeps coming to see her, and Louis’ honest.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of blank
Adjective
  • The 47-year-old, wearing a blue suit and blue tie, was expressionless as the charges against him were described.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2026
  • The routine calls for this chic, almost expressionless vibe — very different from a typical K-pop performance.
    — Billboard Korea, Billboard, 26 Nov. 2025
Definition of expressionless
Adjective
  • The admittedly shy Belgian-Italian fashion designer Anthony Vaccarello entered the house of Saint Laurent as an enigmatic underdog.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
  • Many aspects of the physics underlying GRBs remain enigmatic—but Rubin’s potential for discovering entirely new types of transients could soon offer astronomers a wealth of additional cosmic mysteries to solve.
    — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 July 2026
Definition of enigmatic
Adjective
  • Riles’s face is impassive, focused, as the announcer reads out the winner.
    — Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • Unlike the coolly impassive Pop artists, the Who weren’t afraid to get personal, or to let their art echo the anxious, kinky, maladjusted yammering in their own heads.
    — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Definition of impassive
Adjective
  • Many Labour members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 June 2026
  • Many Labor members hope Burnham’s people skills and charisma can connect with the public more than the stolid, managerial Starmer could ever do.
    — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of stolid

Browse Nearby Words

dead-on
deadpan
dead presidents
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deadpan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deadpan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deadpan

Nglish: Translation of deadpan for Spanish Speakers

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